Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has said that external pressure will not deter the country from engaging with the world, as she heads to the US amid threats of retaliation from China. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has warned US officials not to meet with Tsai, seeing it as support for the island’s desire to be seen as a separate country. Tsai is expected to meet with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, although this has not been officially confirmed. The US government is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, but maintains only unofficial ties with the country.
