Analysis: China, Taiwan, US Share Interest in Avoiding Crisis over California Visit

A spokesperson for China's Washington embassy said that "no matter how packaged," the McCarthy meeting would be a serious violation of China’s sovereignty and "do great harm to the political foundation of China-U.S. relations."

Jacob Stokes of Washington's Center for a New American Security think tank said it was "clear that Taipei and Washington — as well as Beijing to some extent — are trying to carefully manage both the substance and optics of President Tsai’s transit."

Washington has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide it with the means to defend itself. Beijing has never renounced using force to bring Taiwan under its control and Western officials fear a conflict over the island is increasingly likely.

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