On Thursday , China sent warships to the waters surrounding Taiwan, shortly after its deployment of an aircraft carrier, promising a "firm" response after the meeting between the President of the island and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in California, according to what the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense announced.

"China will take resolute and strong measures to resolutely defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning Thursday.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who belongs to a party fighting for the island's independence, welcomed Washington's "steadfast support" on Taiwan during Wednesday's meeting with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Beijing, which has always threatened a response in the event of this meeting, deployed an aircraft carrier near Taiwan, hours after it took place.

On Thursday, three other ships were spotted at around six o'clock (22:00 GMT) in the strait separating China from the island, which enjoys a democratic regime, according to what the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense announced.

An anti-submarine helicopter also crossed Taiwan's air defense zone, the same source added.

China also deployed coast guard vessels to conduct extraordinary patrols, which Taipei protested.

China considers the island of Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, an integral part of its territory and does not rule out its restoration by force if necessary.

Beijing opposes any official contact between Taipei and other countries, insisting on the "one China" principle only.

Last August, Beijing conducted unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan during a visit to the island by former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which angered China.

The Chinese response to the meeting between McCarthy and Tsai has not yet lived up to what happened last year, but it is putting Taipei on alert.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-hsing said the timing of the deployment of the Chinese aircraft carrier, "Shandong", was "sensitive", but did not indicate that any maneuvers had been detected in the vicinity of the warship. He added, "When an aircraft carrier comes out, there are usually take-offs and landings. But we have not detected any landings or take-offs" so far.

"We are continuing the surveillance and monitoring operations," he told reporters.

In response to the possibility that this deployment is a prelude to Chinese military maneuvers, Xu said, "We do not rule out any possibility."
In the United States, Tsai, who came from a tour of Central America, welcomed the "steadfast support" of the United States on Taiwan and stressed that the Taiwanese are "not isolated."

Only 13 countries still recognize Taiwan, including Belize and Guatemala, which Tsai visited during her tour after a first stop in New York.
Hours later, China vowed "firm and effective measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry compared the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy on American soil to "very wrong acts of collusion" between the United States and Taiwan, according to a statement published Thursday morning.

Beijing urged Washington to "stop engaging in a wrong and dangerous path".

This statement came at a time when the French President is on a state visit to China, where he will meet Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In this tense atmosphere, McCarthy chose to receive Tsai in California after he first thought of going personally to Taiwan.
The Republican official stressed that the relationship between Taipei and Washington is "stronger" than ever.

Under Tsai, Taiwan strengthened its rapprochement with the United States.

McCarthy called for "continuing arms sales to Taiwan," saying it was "the best way" to prevent a Chinese invasion of the island.

"This is a basic lesson that we learned from Ukraine, which is that the idea of imposing sanctions only in the future will not deter anyone," he told reporters.

On Pingtan Island in southeast China, the point closest to Taiwan, no exceptional military activity was detected Thursday morning.

However, the Council of Continental Affairs in Taipei, the top body in charge of setting policy towards China, accused Beijing of "obstructing trade in the Taiwan Strait through inspections of cargo ships and passenger ships."

On Wednesday, Chinese maritime authorities announced Chinese coast guard patrols in the strait.

The Taiwanese authority said on Wednesday evening that "the move of the Chinese party deliberately exacerbates tensions between the two sides of the strait," speaking of a "flagrant violation" of maritime practices.

Assistant director of Taiwan's National Security Bureau Ku Shing-heng confirmed Thursday that Taiwanese ships had been ordered to refuse any Chinese inspection.