Taiwan faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ as US welcomes president despite China’s warnings
Taiwan’s peace and democracy are facing “unprecedented challenges”, its president has said, on a visit to the US which will anger China.
Tsai Ing-wen has held talks with both Democrat and Republican congressional leaders at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, against a backdrop of rising tensions with Beijing, which claims the island nation as its own.
Standing alongside President Tsai at a news conference, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said: “I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime. And of course, President Tsai is a great champion of that bond.”
As House Speaker, he is the third most powerful US politician behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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How could a China-Taiwan war hurt the economy?
Republican Mr McCarthy is also the most senior US figure to meet a Taiwanese leader on American soil since 1979 – and the talks came despite threats of retaliation from Beijing.
China sees any interaction between US and Taiwanese officials as a challenge to its claim to the island, and has reacted to previous meetings with shows of force and by cutting back on dialogue with America.
President Tsai said on Wednesday the “unwavering support” from the US reassures “the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated, and we are not alone”.
But she also cautioned: “The peace we have maintained and the democracy which we have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges.
“We find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat.”
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Fighter jet radios reveal tension
She said she reiterated to US congressional leaders her country’s commitment to “defending the peaceful status quo”.
She also said that to “preserve peace we must be strong, and we are stronger together”, adding: “Taiwan was grateful to have the US by its side.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shakes hands with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Pic: AP
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The two politicians stood in an atrium in front of a plane that Ronald Reagan flew on as president in the 1980s.
Mr McCarthy said: “The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world. And it is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace and regional stability.”
He said: “We will honour our obligations and reiterate our commitment to our shared values behind which all Americans are united.”
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Angry Chinese officials have pledged a sharp but unspecified response to the meeting with Mr McCarthy.
But the White House has said there is nothing new or provocative about Ms Tsai’s visit.
“There’s no reason for the Chinese to overreact in any way,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
The Chinese responded to a visit by then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August by carrying out its biggest live-fire drills in decades, including firing a missile over the island.
The United States and European Union have agreed a trade deal, says Donald Trump.
The announcement was made as the US president met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at one of his golf resorts in Scotland.
Speaking after talks in Turnberry, Mr Trump said the EU deal was the “biggest deal ever made” and it will be “great for cars”.
The US will impose 15% tariffs on EU goods into America, after Mr Trump had threatened a 30% levy.
He said there will be an EU investment of $600bn in the US, the bloc will buy $750bn in US energy and will also purchase US military equipment.
Mr Trump had earlier said the main sticking point was “fairness”, citing barriers to US exports of cars and agriculture.
He went into the talks demanding fairer trade with the 27-member EU and threatening steep tariffs to achieve that, while insisting the US will not go below 15% import taxes.
For months, Mr Trump has threatened most of the world with large tariffs in the hope of shrinking major US trade deficits with many key trading partners, including the EU.
Ms von der Leyen said the agreement would include 15% tariffs across the board, saying it would help rebalance trade between the two large trading partners.
In case there was no deal and the US had imposed 30% tariffs from 1 August, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on €93bn (£81bn) of US goods.
Ahead of their meeting on Sunday, Ms von der Leyen described Mr Trump as a “tough negotiator and dealmaker”.
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At least 11 people have been stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in Michigan, with six in a critical condition.
Officials say a suspect is in custody – and at this stage, it is believed the attack was a “random act” that involved a folding-style knife near the checkout area.
Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters: “Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more.”
Pic: AP
The suspect, who is from Michigan, is not known to police – and was captured within three minutes thanks to “citizen involvement”.
The attack unfolded in Traverse City – and Tiffany DeFell, who was in the car park at the time, described scenes of chaos.
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies.”
Beyond the six people in a critical condition, it is believed the remaining five were seriously hurt. All 11 are still being treated in hospital.
Pic: AP
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”
A Walmart spokesperson added that the retailer is working closely with law enforcement.
“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” a statement said.
Pic: AP
At this stage, the ages of the victims is unclear – but it is not thought any of the victims were Walmart employees.
Traverse City is about 255 miles northwest of Detroit.
A US passenger plane made a dramatic plunge minutes after take-off to dodge another aircraft – injuring two cabin crew and causing passengers to shoot out of their seats.
The Southwest flight had just taken off from Burbank in California when the pilot received an alert about a nearby plane.
Data from FlightAware shows the aircraft dropped by 91m (300ft) in just 36 seconds. Those on board said they felt panicked, and some feared the plane was about to crash.
Comedian Jimmy Dore posted on X: “Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid mid-air collision … myself and plenty of people flew out of their seats and bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention.”
Stef Zambrano saw a woman who wasn’t wearing her seatbelt thrown out of her seat, who then said: “I want to get off this plane. I want to be on the ground.”
Another passenger, Steve Ulasewicz, told NBC Los Angeles that it felt like the plane was in freefall for 10 seconds.
“People were screaming. You know, it was pandemonium. People thought the plane was going down,” he added.
The aircraft was able to continue to its destination of Las Vegas, where it safely landed without any further incident.
It is believed the Boeing 737 was in the same vicinity as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter jet.
Southwest is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration “to further understand the circumstances” of the event.
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January: Footage of Washington plane crash
This is the second time in a week that a passenger plane has had to make abrupt flight manoeuvres to avoid a potential mid-air collision.
Concerns have been raised about aviation safety in the US following a series of recent incidents.
In January, a mid-air collision in Washington DC killed 67 people.
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