U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, left, attends a luncheon with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, during a visit by a congressional delegation to Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 8. By HUIZHONG WUChina has sanctioned a United States lawmaker for his visit to Taiwan, saying he violated the “One China” principle that says Beijing has sovereignty over the island. The mainland’s ruling Communist Party says Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid a civil war, must be reunited with China by force if necessary. It's one of several rounds of sanctions China announced as tensions build between Beijing and Washington. “Nothing will deter the United States from supporting free, democratic nations — including Taiwan.”McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been advocating for a hard-line stance against China and closer ties with Taiwan.

Source: The Guardian April 14, 2023 10:58 UTC