China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, is engaged in an exercise in the western Pacific amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. The tension follows a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.
The aircraft carrier was 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwan’s east coast and is being prepared for far sea operations to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. These exercises come as Tsai met McCarthy during a stopover in California, US - a move that has been furiously condemned by Beijing.
Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to take control over it if necessary. In response to this recent meeting between Taiwanese leadership and US politicians, Chinese officials reiterated their commitment to considering issues concerning Taiwan as red lines that must not be crossed within China-US relations.
During her visit with McCarthy, President Tsai expressed gratitude towards him along with other American legislators who participated in their discussion: "I would like to thank Speaker Kevin McCarthy and all members present today for your support," she stated at their joint press conference.
On Beijing's side regarding these ongoing tensions surrounding matters related to Taiwanese sovereignty are concerns about potential implications on political stability within mainland China itself should external forces interfere or try influencing public opinion against Communist Party rule there; such interference could potentially threaten overall regional security dynamics throughout East Asia more broadly speaking too given historical precedents set forth from past conflicts involving contested territories elsewhere around world stage generally speaking thus making situation even tenser than already currently stands right now indeed very much so!
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet both parties later on Thursday hoping they can find common ground through dialogue rather than resorting further escalation measures which might otherwise worsen existing strained diplomatic ties between Washington DC & Taipei versus PRC government officials here instead.