China said it will respond with “resolute and forceful measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity” after U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. China urged the U.S. “not to walk further down a wrong and dangerous road.” While Taiwan is tracking some Chinese ships in the South China Sea, including China’s aircraft carrier Shandong and escorts operating near Taiwan, thus far there is nothing like the seven ships and 71 aircraft which conducted a 24-hour exercise in close proximity to Taiwan in December. DW reports that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is anchored 400 miles east of Taiwan in the Philippine Sea.
