China deploys warships near Taiwan after president meets U.S. Speaker

China deployed warships near Taiwan on Thursday in response to the island’s president Tsai Ing-wen meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Beijing vowed a “resolute response” to the talks they held in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Taiwan’s leader said the meeting that was attended by U.S. lawmakers showed that the island has international support.

“Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone,” Tsai said.

While China insists on the democratically governed island being a part of its territory, it has repeatedly warned both Taiwan and the U.S. against the meeting. Beijing deployed an aircraft carried southeast of Taiwan shortly before the talks. Three more warships were detected on Thursday morning, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

It added that an anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed the island’s air defense identification zone. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng described the timing of the deployment of the Shandong, one of just two Chinese aircraft carriers, as “sensitive”.