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China will take measures to protect its sovereignty — Foreign Ministry

Earlier, China had sent several warships to the Taiwan Strait after a meeting between the head of the Taiwan Island’s administration, Tsai Ing-wen, and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy

BEIJING, April 7. /TASS/. China will continue to take the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news briefing Friday, while commenting on reports that China had sent several warships to the Taiwan Strait after a meeting between the head of the Taiwan Island’s administration, Tsai Ing-wen, and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"I want to emphasize that China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Mao said.

McCarthy held a meeting on Wednesday with Tsai, who is transiting the United States. At the end of the meeting, the US side said it was necessary to continue selling arms to Taiwan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed a protest, saying that Beijing would take effective and decisive retaliatory measures.

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the remaining Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after suffering a defeat in China’s civil war. Since then, Taiwan has preserved the flag and some other symbols of the Republic of China that had existed in mainland China before the Communists came to power. Beijing regards the island as one of its provinces and this position is supported by most countries, including Russia.

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