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Israeli Police Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque For A Second Night; U.S. Speaker McCarthy Meets Taiwan's Tsai Despite China Pressure; Putin Says U.S.-Russia Ties In Deep Crisis, Blames Washington; U.K. Plans To House Asylum Seekers On Barge, Amid Efforts To Deter Boat Crossings; Security Officials Testified Trump Wanted To Seize Voting Machines; Taiwan President Heartened by Bipartisan U.S. Support; Deep Dive on a U.S. Nuclear Submarine; 50 Million People Still Under Threat for Severe Storms; Pence Sets Stage for His First Grand Jury Testimony; Buckingham Palace Releases Images of Invitation. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired April 06, 2023 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up, this hour right here on CNN. Another night of violence in Jerusalem as Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinians during a raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam for those sacred sites.
Don't call it a visit, the White House downplays and historic meeting between the leader of Taiwan and the Speaker of the U.S. House, which Beijing has condemned as egregiously wrong. And Great Scott (ph) 1.21 gigawatts of energy enough for the flux capacitor, while severe thunderstorms that hundreds of thousands across Canada in the dark.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: He's very pleased on one of Islam's holiest sites not once but twice on Wednesdays sparking outbreaks of violence beyond Jerusalem. Right now the Jewish holiday of Passover has begun while Muslims are ending the holy month of Ramadan.
Video posted online shows the scene inside the LSU mosque during the second raid, armed Israeli officers deployed stun grenades and ordered worshipers to leave immediately. Police say in a statement dozens of juveniles, some masks had thrown fireworks and stones tried to barricade themselves inside the mosque and please help worshippers to leave.
The Palestinian Red Crescent says 18 people were wounded during both incidents. The UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace says he's appalled by the clashes and the arrest of more than 350 people, mostly Palestinians.
Those actions also drew widespread condemnation from across the Muslim and Arab world. The Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League told CNN that the Israeli government is bent on inflaming the situation, and did not require a pretext to storm the mosque.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSSAM ZAKI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, ARAB LEAGUE: We could have predicted these confrontations several weeks before Ramadan. The situation was that bad and it's still that bad. So whatever the head of the government say, excuse me, but we do not believe any of these words.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Jordan called for a story media, the Arab League and today in foreign military said in coordination with its Arab brothers, it will take all necessary measures to stop the dangerous escalation and violations committed by the Israeli occupation and hold it accountable.
Carrie Keller-Lynn is a political correspondent for The Times of Israel. She is with us this hour from New York. Thank you for taking time on this and stay tonight.
CARRIE KELLER-LYNN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: Of course.
VAUSE: So the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, he released a statement about the raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque read in part, what is happening in Jerusalem is a major crime. Israel does not want to learn from history, that the al-Aqsa is for the Palestinians and for all Arabs and Muslims. And that storming it sparked a revolution against the occupation.
I guess the point here is that there have been clashes before between Palestinians and Israeli police in this area known as the temple mount or Haram al-Sharif, but sending police into the mosque, firing stone grenades and using batons to beat worshipers inside the mosque. We've seen this to a whole new level, a whole new dangerous level.
KELLER-LYNN: This is absolutely a very disturbing scene, I would say. Both in terms of what the police alleged could have happened had the raid not occurred. The police said that the worshipers were fortifying themselves within the sacred holy place along with stones, with fireworks, which were ultimately launched against the police in order to perhaps attack Jewish worshippers the following day. Remind me of course that Jewish worshippers were planning to come consecrate the upcoming Passover holiday on Wednesday before it started this evening.
What we saw in terms of the police forces reacting as strongly as they did very, very harsh videos to watch. But really, I think speaking to the fact of how scarred people are about this time, this critical time being Ramadan, Passover and the convergence of Easter coming that only two years ago, conflicts on the Temple Mount, ultimately, were the catalyst for an 11 day conflict between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israel. So this is definitely top of mind people. And a very strong response kind of put that at the forefront of Israeli consciousness.
VAUSE: Yes. And in so many ways, we've seen the elements of that, once again, sort of playing out we've had the rocket fire from Hamas, from Gaza into southern Israel. We've seen the IDF carry out military strikes in Gaza on Hamas targets.
[01:05:04]
So it is a certainty that we're heading in that direction. Is there an off ramp here?
KELLER-LYNN: I think certainty is very hard to say. But what we're seeing that is particularly concerning is the involvement of other international players. There were a lot of efforts before in the lead up to Ramadan season for Israel, as well as its local neighbors, Egypt and Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority mediated by the U.S. to some extent, to really think about quelling these tensions. Of course, the new government that's headed by Benjamin Netanyahu is has been headed by security figures who not necessarily have been quieting, but rather raising the tensions.
VAUSE: And (INAUDIBLE) statement by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is committed to maintaining freedom of worship, free access to all religions and the status quo on the Temple Mount, and will not allow violent extremists to change this. Many critics banning opponents of the Prime Minister because that statement applies to something most senior ministers within his coalition government.
KELLER-LYNN: Right, we have a Police Minister, who was indicted 15 times for in charges, including incitement to violence and racism and support of a Jewish terrorist group. And we have a finance minister, who is also a second minister in our defense ministry, who said that he supports wiping off Palestinian community off the map as well as says that there's no such thing as Palestinian people.
So, we have this very difficult security situation, as well as the security cabinet within Israel, which hasn't met since February. And like I said, the defense minister, it's unclear whether it's not in the position.
So we do have a very, I think, very problematic security situation within the Israeli government itself moving into the situation, and difficult to say how to deal with external challenges when balancing so many within the coalition itself that's supposed to be governing against them.
VAUSE: And just quickly wrap this up. How does this all play into the tensions between the Palestinians and the Israelis with the internal divisions and the mass protests, which have taken place for weeks now across Israel, over here, the reform of the judiciary there?
KELLER-LYNN: I'd say in three main ways. The first way is that, really the government's critical mass, weight of attention has been placed on judicial reform its plan to dramatically neuter judiciary power, and instead increased political power with almost unchecked and unfettered. That has been the government's sole focus, and as such, has really deescalated its emphasis on security, even leading to this critical time. Again, we talked about what you said to extremists in the Israeli government, this would be far right parties that have come to power through Netanyahu since the election in November, they are part of this government, because this is the coalition that was possible for Netanyahu. So these politics obviously play a role with these figures in power in such secure sensitive security settings.
And then, obviously, you have all the international pressure as well, that's been playing on the Israeli government and also interfering with its own ability to orchestrate scenarios such that it could defend against this this kind of outcome.
VAUSE: Carrie, thank you for being with us. We really appreciate it. Thank you.
KELLER-LYNN: Thank you. A Chinese aircraft strike group has been spotted off the southeast coast of Taiwan. The timing and location sending a clear message from Beijing, as Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, meets with the leader of Taiwan.
McCarthy led a bipartisan group of lawmakers while he met with the Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan Presidential Library on Wednesday, the first time a leader of Taiwan and a U.S. House speaker have been face to face on American soil.
Beijing denounced the landmark visit said Washington was hollowing out the one China principle which is the bedrock of U.S.-China relations, which recognizes the mainland communist government in Beijing as the only legitimate government of all of China.
The White House has tried to downplay the historic nature of the meeting, and it says China not to overreact.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: These transits by high level Taiwanese authorities are nothing new. They're private, they're unofficial, but they've been going on for years. Beijing should not use the transits as an excuse to take any actions to ratchet up tensions to further push it, changing the status quo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The high profile meeting is seen as a sign of solidarity between two Democratic allies in defiance of threats from China. McCarthy call President Tsai a great friend to America. Taiwan's leader though had a urgent warning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TSAI ING-WEN, TAIWANESE PRESIDENT: In discussion with congressional leaders this morning, I reiterated Taiwan's commitment to defending the peaceful status quo. However, it is no secret that today the peace that we have maintained and the democracy, which have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:10:09]
VAUSE: And with Taiwan's President ending her visit to United States, a bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers were arriving in Taipei just a short time ago. CNN Steven Jiang now live from Beijing with more. You know, never it seems has Taiwan been such a popular destination for U.S. lawmakers but Beijing didn't react with such outrage. It does beg the question, would they go in the first place? Having said that, what is the reaction right now from Beijing?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, John, it's interesting point you just made because despite these high pressure tactic from Beijing in terms of getting rid of Taiwan's formal diplomatic allies, so Taiwan has indeed become a very popular destinations for lawmakers, not just from the U.S., but from other Western countries as well, because it's now being considered to be on the frontline in this global competition between autocracy and democracy.
But in terms of the Chinese reaction so far to Tsai's visit and meetings in the U.S., fairly muted by Chinese standard, especially when you consider what they did immediately after what then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year, that of course was triggered that way -- that was followed by a wave of very intense military exercises around the island conducted by the Chinese including firing missiles, flying over the island and practicing a mop blockade and not to mention increasing the number of warships in the warplanes they dispatched around waters and airspace around the island. None of that has happened.
So far, it seems that there was a Chinese aircraft carrier passing through this channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. But that was previously planned and announced there is also the civilian maritime authorities plan to conduct so called patrol and inspection, operations targeting ostensibly targeting illegal dredging activities. So that really was a very stark contrast.
And part of that was, according to many analysts, that visit by Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. relatively low key by design, according to U.S. and Taiwanese officials, but the other is timing. Her visit actually coincided with two very important visits here in China, by some very prominent figures, one by former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, whose party had has long favored of closer ties with Beijing, and Ma, of course, met Xi Jinping himself in 2015.
And then Taiwan naturally is going to have its next presidential election in just a few months in January 2024. And historically, whenever Beijing launched very warmongering rhetoric and intense some military drills that had backfired.
And then, of course, you have this highly anticipated visit by French president Macron, who is now here, and he's about to meet Xi Jinping in a few hours. And he of course, has been accompanied by European Commission president von der Leyen. And their visit comes at a very critical juncture between the relationship between E.U. and China and Taiwan has also become an increasingly thorny issue given the Russian invasion of Ukraine and increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
So all of that may explain why the Beijing reaction so far has been relatively muted. But that of course, doesn't mean they're not going to change tactics once all these guests leave and as we have seen historically, when there is some sort of crisis happening in the Taiwan Strait, sometimes it can last for months. John.
VAUSE: Steven, thank you as you'd be speaking (INAUDIBLE) von der Leyen meeting there with Li Qiang the premiere. We appreciate the update from Beijing. Thank you.
Lots of meetings to report in the coming hours Russian President Vladimir Putin will sit down with his Belarusian counterpart for a second day of talks in Moscow. (INAUDIBLE) kicked off the summit on Wednesday. They're now gearing up for a meeting of the Supreme Council the union state of Russia and Belarus.
The Kremlin spokesman says Alexander Lukashenko is Ukraine peace proposal, another one, will likely be discussed during meetings with Vladimir Putin. And the new U.S. ambassador in Moscow has received a dressing down by the Russian president, who said relations with Washington are now in a deep crisis.
He said U.S. support for the 2014 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine was to blame for the current conflict. Later, during a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Putin made the baseless claim that Western intelligence services may be involved in recent terrorist attacks inside Russia. White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby had this response.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JOHN KIRBY, WSC COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: From the early days of this war, we have been providing intelligence and information support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to enable them to better defend themselves. We do not enable nor do we encourage the Ukrainians to strike outside of Ukraine, and I really just, I'm going to leave it at that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has made his first visit to Warsaw since the war began making it clear he considers Poland not only a partner but a very close friend.
Zelenskyy and the Polish president Andrzej Duda signed an agreement aiming to strengthen defense capabilities of the Ukrainian military through the supplies of Polish weapons.
[01:15:07]
Duda says Poland is delivering for fighter jets to Ukraine, initially before others, which were recently said. During the visit, Duda awarded Zelensky's Poland's oldest and highest order, calling him a man of outstanding qualities. Ukrainian president thank Poland for standing with Ukraine on a truly difficult path. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): You have not abandoned Ukraine. You stood with us shoulder to shoulder. We're grateful to you. We believe that this is a historical relationship. It is a sign of historic strength between our countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Ukrainian troops have come under increasingly heavy attack from Russian forces trying to control the city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian soldier told CNN heavy fighting is underway in the center of the city and that all roads in and out of Bakhmut now under Russian fire.
President Zelenskyy is now suggesting a pull out from Bakhmut may be possible but only to provide a route of Ukrainian troops, which he added less likely if Ukraine's allies speed up. I mean, it's a deliveries.
Well, over the last few months, it's become clear that neither Ukraine nor Russia has the firepower to decisively end this war. Both sides have dug in what seems to be a semi-permanent network of deep trenches across the eastern front. It's a grim reminder of the trench warfare from a time long since pass. Here's CNN's Ben Wedeman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): In the trenches the deeper you dig, the better. The front lines in the open plains of eastern Ukraine or a zigzag of earthworks. In this area positions have been static for a while.
Alexei (ph) from the First Tank Brigade has been here for six months. Sometimes it's quiet, he says, and sometimes it's loud. Sometimes they, the Russians, tried to break through. So far they haven't succeeded.
WEDEMAN (on camera): Might want to get down. OK, we are told that Russian lines are just one kilometer from here. We're hearing occasional shelling, but nothing coming on this position. Yet.
WEDEMAN (voiceover): This soldier also named Alexei (ph) peers through binoculars across no man's land, but only briefly to avoid drawing sniper fire. To be honest at first I was scared he says, but humans can get used to everything. They're yet to get used to one threat hovering overhead.
WEDEMAN (on camera): All right, we've now taken cover because the soldiers say there's a drone flying over in the area which they tell us occasionally drop grenades on their trenches.
WEDEMAN (voiceover): But not this time. To the rear, Sergeant Oleg checks that is Soviet era T64. tanks are in good working order. It's like an old car, easy to repair, Oleg tells me. With new cars you have to take them to the mechanic. These are like a simple tractor. But these tractors may soon be replaced by newer models. He says some of his comrades are in Poland being trained to use German made leopard tanks.
Spring is arrived in these parts and with it growing anticipation of a Ukrainian offensive new more modern weapons and these old hoax could make all the difference. Back in the trenches, all is quiet, but as we leave a drone appears above us. Then our ride out arrives. 30 seconds OK. There are artillery, no time to waste.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Eastern Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: When we come back, a barrage of criticism of Britain's latest attempts to discourage asylum seekers. Hundreds will be housed on a barge. Plus, invitations will soon be set out for the coronation of King Charles III. One world leader, they're already sending his regrets along with his wife.
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[01:21:25]
VAUSE: The British government's latest plan to help asylum seekers has been met with a barrage of criticism. This barge will soon be home to hundreds waiting for their asylum claims to be processed. The government says it's a cost saving measure. With U.K. facing an influx of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, human rights groups they say it's cruel, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the government does not have much of a choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RISHI SUNAK, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We can't have a situation we are collectively spending 6 million pounds a day on hotels for illegal asylum seekers. We're bringing forward alternative sites like indeed the barge that we've announced today that will save us money and indeed reduce pressure on hotels all part of our plan to stop the boat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Barges called Bibi Stockholm, and it will not be the only barge properly possibly. The governors are looking at trying to find other barges to use and if they get them that's where asylum seekers will stay for at least 18 months.
CNN has learned new details about grand jury testimony in the efforts to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 election loss that includes White House proposals to cease voting machines. According to sources, at least two former Trump officials who were present say they repeatedly told Trump the government had no authorities to take such action. CNN's Zachary Cohen has a report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ZACHARY COHEN, CNN U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER (on camera): Multiple former top national security officials have testified to a federal grand jury that they repeatedly told former President Donald Trump and his allies that the government did not have the authority to seize voting machines after the 2020 election.
Now sources are telling CNN the former officials detailed conversations with Trump and those closest to him with the idea of seizing voting machines was raised. Now the new details offer a rare window into one of the two ongoing criminal investigations overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, Chad Wolf, Trump's former Department of Homeland Security Secretary and his then deputy Ken Cuccinelli have both testified and Smith's probe focus on efforts to overturn the 2020 election, both Wolf and Cuccinelli told the grand jury that they told Trump on multiple occasions their agency did not have the authority to seize voting machines.
Now prosecutors also heard from Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien, who recounted conversations where seizing voting machines was discussed, including one Oval Office meeting that Trump participated in. Now, this coming as several former Trump officials will likely be forced to testify before the grand jury after a judge rejected Trump's claims of executive privilege. Zach COHEN, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has often been called the Trump of the tropics. Now he has one more similarity. He's under multiple investigations as well. Bolsonaro arrived at the federal police station in Brasilia Wednesday to answer questions, but millions of dollars in jewelry he received from Saudi Arabia. Our CNN's Stefano Pozzebon explains just like Donald Trump, Bolsonaro is not letting legal trouble interfere with future presidential ambitions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST (voiceover): A Trump ally and a former president, Jair Bolsonaro summoned by federal police as part of a criminal investigation into his actions while in office. After a three month stay in the United States, where he was held by Donald Trump himself.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Very, very popular in Brazil, the former president of Brazil, President Bolsonaro.
POZZEBON: He's returned home last week met with cheers from supporters on the plane and outside the airports.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I'm so happy with Bolsonaro's return.
POZZEBON: When asked to who will be elected President in 2026, his son, Eduardo, said this.
[01:25:05]
EDUARDO BOLSONARO, CONGRESSMAN, RIO DE JANEIRO: If have integrity in our elections for sure, I guess Bolsonaro. Or maybe even before.
POZZEBON: But his political future hangs in the balance, as Bolsonaro is the subject of 16 different investigations from keeping and not declaring $3.2 million worth of luxury jewelry gifted to him and his wife as heads of state by Saudi Arabia. Too much more consequential allegations, like whether he cited the January 8 riots in Brasilia. Bolsonaro says he has done nothing wrong and no charges have been filed against him. Bolsonaro nickname Trump of the Tropics knows how to rile up his base.
JAIR BOLSONARO, FORMER PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL (through translator): There are certain themes in Brazil that cannot be spoken, or ever since one of them is a vaccine. They keep saying science, science, science. What I say is freedom, freedom, freedom.
POZZEBON: For those who like Trump, legal rules now standing in the way of a possible comeback.
POZZEBON (on camera): What do you think would be not been able to run for presidency for the Bolsonaro brand?
BRUNO BOSSAGHIAN, POLITICAL COLUMNIST,FOLHA DE S. PAULO: His allies try to argue that Bolsonaro wouldn't be to hurt if that happened, because people would see that it was an injustice from the Supreme Court or from the Electoral Court. That's something that comes out of every, every populace playbook.
POZZEBON (voiceover): For some of his supporters will Bolsonaro represents has already outgrown the politician.
FREDSON BATISTA, BOLSONARO SUPPORTER (through translator): If it's not him, there will be another one. There'll be thousands, millions.
POZZEBON: He could pass the baton to one of his sons, or the former First Lady. But Bolsonaro's own Liberal Party is betting on as a possible candidate, he for husband, he's barred from running. A challenge for anyone trying to fit his shoes.
BOSSAGHIAN: There's no one else to challenge him in the exact same outfit that he uses right now.
POZZEBON: Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, Brasilia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Peter Murrell, the husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was released without charge Wednesday after nearly 12 hours in police custody. He's been released pending further investigation. Police had searched his home and one other location. AFP reporting officers were seen carrying shovels into a guarded area. Just not clear why.
Murrell was arrested (INAUDIBLE) Scottish National Party where he ran for 25 years before stepping down as chief executive last month. Police in Scotland investigating whether $750,000 in donations to support Scottish independence were allegedly diverted elsewhere, and Murrelll as a suspect in the case following his wife's selling decision in February to sit down after eight years as First Minister.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are moving rapidly to restoring diplomatic relations after last month's announcement that the former adversaries will reestablish ties. The foreign ministers of both countries are meeting in Beijing. Primary objective for both is to quickly reopen embassies and consulates in each other's countries. Their reconciliation after seven years of hostility was brokered by Beijing in early March.
Still ahead, two simultaneous trips from current or former Taiwanese leaders to competing views of how their self-governing Island deals with a growing threat from China. We'll take a look at that and we'll discuss it after the break.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. I'm John Vause. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Taiwan's president says she's heartened by the strong bipartisan support from U.S. lawmakers after a historic meeting with the U.S. House Speaker and others on Wednesday.
The leader of the self-governing island is rallying allies amid a growing threat from China. But some in Taiwan are now taking a very different approach.
And CNN's Selina Wang reports now from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A meeting with the potential to spark a crisis. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen meet outside Los Angeles on Wednesday. Each show of democratic solidarity amid rising tensions with China.
TSAI ING-WEN, TAIWANESE PRESIDENT: We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat. Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone.
WANG: McCarthy echoing her comments during their meeting at the Reagan Presidential Library.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world.
WANG: Earlier (ph) Tsai's arrival at her hotel met with demonstrators chanting that they love and support the president, some holding signs that say "Taiwan belongs to the people of Taiwan, not the CCP." Others shout Xi Jinping is not China, Chinese support Tsai Ing-Wen.
And Tsai Ing-Wen protesters take to the streets of Los Angeles as well shouting "traitor" as her entourage drives past.
Washington is downplaying the meeting as part of a stopover on Tsai's way back to Taiwan. But Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that's part of its territory. It's threatening to fight back, calling the meeting a violation of its sovereignty.
When then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last summer, China responded with unprecedented military drills that simulated a blockade around the island.
So far, Beijing has held routine military drills around Taiwan and launched a three-day patrol operation through the Taiwan Strait. But the military reaction maybe more muted this time since they're meeting on American soil.
But that's not stopping fury from China's heavily-censored social media, with comments like "let's fight" and "shoot her plane down or force it to land".
Every day Taiwan already deals with Chinese fighter jets around its skies and military ships sailing off its coast. Beijing has been upping its intimidation of the island as unofficial ties between Taiwan and the U.S. strengthen.
But there are reasons for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to hold back this time. He's positioning himself as a global statesman and peacemaker in Ukraine. Meeting with Putin in Moscow and brokering a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, plus war games over Taiwan would overshadow French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival in Beijing.
And while Taiwan's leader is on American soil, another symbolic meeting is taking place in China. Taiwan's former president Ma Ying- jeou is touring the country, the first ever visit to China by a current or former Taiwanese leader.
He gave a speech saying people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait all belong to the Chinese nation and are all Chinese descendants. I hope both sides can work together to achieve peace and avoid war.
His trip reflects the split inside Taiwan about how to deal with the existential danger. The simultaneous trips symbolizing competing views, courting the hostile neighbor to prevent war or building up relations with the powerful force across the Pacific.
Selina Wang, CNN -- Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Richard McGregor is a senior fellow for the East Asia -- for East Asia rather -- at the Lowy Institute. He joins us now live from Sydney. Richard, it's been a while. It's nice to I see you. RICHARD MCGREGOR, SENIOR FELLOW FOR EAST ASIA, LOWY INSTITUTE: Good to
see you, John.
[01:34:53]
VAUSE: Ok. So I want you to listen to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby, speaking a few days ago on the decision by the leader of Taiwan to transit through the United States. Just don't call it a visit.
Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KIRBY, NSC STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: This transit is consistent with our long-standing unofficial relationship with Taiwan, and it is consistent with the United States' One China policy, which remains unchanged.
It is Taiwan's decision to make these transits based on their own travel. Transits are not visits, they are private and they're unofficial.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Explain the diplomatic jujitsu here because it kind of seems asinine. It's a visit and the reason why they're meeting at the Ronald Reagan National Library with Air Force One as a backdrop is because they want to make it look like an official visit.
Will China be any less annoyed because it wasn't held on Capitol Hill?
MCGREGOR: Not really. I think it's less significant than if Kevin McCarthy like Nancy Pelosi had gone to Taiwan itself, and I think the U.S. was keen to avoid that to stop giving not so they wouldn't give China an excuse to conduct military exercises around the island again.
But look, as John Kirby says it is both consistent with what's happened in the past. And it's consistent with heightening tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan.
So it all of the above is true that the truth, the fact is that there is a sort of structurally, you know, growing confrontation between China and the U.S. over Taiwan. Taiwan caught in the middle. Taiwan both wants to sort of raise its international profile but not so far as to provoke China.
It's a very fine balance. None of us know how long they -- it's going to last for.
VAUSE: I want to show you a little more here from the House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at a news conference after meeting with the leader of Taiwan. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MCCARTHY: My first message to China, there's no need for retaliation. But the one thing I would say to China too at no time -- I am the speaker of the house. There is no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or who I can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: This is sort of the Angus MacGregor doctor. You're not the boss of me. It seems like it's all sort of saber rattling by the Democrats and Republicans to (INAUDIBLE) tougher voters. Is it -- is there anymore here going on?
MCGREGOR: I think Kevin McCarthy first had to sort of make clear that it was his choice to do this in California, not in Taiwan, and maybe that's true.
But I think the truth behind this is in fact, I don't think Taiwan wanted him to come. You know, I'm not sure Taiwan entirely wanted Nancy Pelosi to come either.
I don't think they wanted Kevin McCarthy to come because they don't want as I said before a repeat of what happened after the Pelosi visit, a virtual blockade of Taiwan, which is you know, one of the scenarios that could play out in any endgame around the island.
So I think Mr. McCarthy showed admirable restraint by actually agreeing to do it in California and not insisting on going to Taiwan.
But I think Taiwan has dictated that part of the framework of this visit.
VAUSE: Well for the president of Taiwan you know, this visit or hosting or gathering or stopover or impromptu get together -- whatever you want to say, actually has some importance.
And here she is. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TSAI: Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Because the reality is they are becoming increasingly isolated. Honduras is set to break formal ties with Taiwan, and that leaves 13 countries with formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, mostly small, poor island nations.
More than 100 countries have maintained informal relations, but you know, Beijing is clearly succeeding in isolating Taiwan globally, at least from the formal diplomatic structure. And that has a consequence of Taiwan moving forward.
MCGREGOR: Absolutely I think it's both important for Taiwan's survival, and it's important for the government in Taiwan to show that they do have international friends.
As you say China has been gradually peeling off countries which have recognized Taiwan. There were two in the Pacific in recent years, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. We saw Honduras week or so ago. I would expect to see some more in Latin America and the like.
And so I think, you know, we had a lot of talk about war with Taiwan or an invasion of Taiwan. That is not China's preferred option. They would much prefer to just gradually ratchet up the pressure on Taiwan and diplomatic isolation is a big part of that.
VAUSE: The other big part of that, too, is the economic side of it because there's a growing Chinese influence of the economic ties with Taiwan which many fear will actually get to the same result and you know, faster than innovation would.
[01:39:43]
MCGREGOR: That's true, John. But it's actually harder than it looks because China -- you know, Taiwan is very dependent if you like on trade with China, but you know if you look at the, you know, broaden the lens a little bit, they are interdependent.
You know, all sorts of things produced in Taiwan are absolutely integral to final products produced in China. Most importantly, advanced semiconductors so they can put pressure on Taiwan.
But you know, in a large way, there's a limit to that. And we've seen that with many Chinese economic pressure campaigns around the world on Norway, on South Korea, on Australia and the like. So they've tried economic pressure on Taiwan before. It hasn't worked. I think it's about political psychology, actually.
VAUSE: Richard it's great to speak with you. We love your insights, they're fantastic. Thank you very much. We appreciate it.
MCGREGOR: Thank you, John.
VAUSE: Cheers.
Well as tensions rise and China continues to build what is already world's largest navy, the U.S. is focusing on deterrence. One part of that is military might as well, fleets of ships and submarines to try and keep the peace.
CNN's Will Ripley has an exclusive behind the scenes look on board one of the U.S. Navy's most advanced submarines. He takes us now for a deep dive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Our journey begins in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii -- the bustling hub of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, covering almost half the world 100 million square miles; 1,500 aircraft and around 200 ships, including more than half of the navy's nuclear powered submarines. Today we're getting an exclusive look inside the USS Mississippi, one
of the most powerful warships on the planet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome aboard.
RIPLEY: With a crew of around 140 people. Rear Admiral Jeff Jablon is commander of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force facing new, powerful threats in the hotly contested Indo Pacific.
Are you concerned about what China's navy is doing, particularly in the South China Sea and around Taiwan?
REAR ADMIRAL JEFF JABLON, COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET SUBMARINE FORCE: I am concerned. You know, in today's world, we are facing two nuclear peer adversaries where we've never had that before. The Soviet Union and post Soviet Union Russia was our peer adversary.
We're now facing China, which has expanded and modernized their nuclear capabilities.
RIPLEY: The Mississippi is one of 49 fast attack submarines in the U.S. naval fleet. The fleet also has 14 larger submarines carrying nuclear armed ballistic missiles.
The U.S,. U.K. and Australia's newly announced (INAUDIBLE) partnership will send nuclear powered submarines to Perth, potentially challenging China's ambitions for the region.
Beijing now has the world's largest navy but U.S. submarines have the world's most advanced technology, a key advantage in underwater warfare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mississippi is ready to dive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dive.
RIPLEY: This sub is capable of diving deep and fast, descending hundreds of feet in a matter of seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 300 feet.
RIPLEY: At angles of up to 25 degrees, even standing up can be a challenge.
Traveling underwater makes the submarine almost impossible to detect. The nuclear reactor is so quiet the submarine makes less noise than a whale. In the dark depths of the ocean there's no light to navigate.
The team relies on highly sensitive sonar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the ocean environment is very unforgiving. So there are a lot of challenges that prevent a submarine from hearing another submarine or another surface ship.
And you've got to be able to understand those different challenges.
RIPLEY: The USS Mississippi, like all of America's nuclear submarines, can essentially sustain itself under the water for weeks or even months at a time because of the nuclear reactor that powers them. They breathe recirculated air. And purified water, the only thing that they need to actually get resupplied with is food for the crew members, and that means that they get used to spending a very long time not only without sunshine and blue skies but also without regular communication or conversations with their families.
The food on submarines is surprisingly good, but spending months underwater can be tough. No mobile phones allowed. Outside communication only possible on emails. Sailors have to look after each other.
What most surprised you about life and working on a submarine.
STEVEN WONG, CREW MEMBER, USS MISSISSIPPI: Honestly what surprised me the most was like the people. How close you get with each other. These kind of shared hardships you share with each other. You end up with a really strong bond.
RIPLEY: The crew relies on that bond carrying out complicated, dangerous tasks. Inside the torpedo room, technicians practice loading high precision weapons capable of taking out other submarines and ships.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the morning understand the warning.
RIPLEY: At the back of the sub Jack O'Brien works with a team of technical engineers.
Do you ever get bored on a sub?
JACK O'BRIEN, CREW MEMBER, USS MISSISSIPPI: No, absolutely not. Every day I come in thinking I know what I'm thinking. I know exactly what's going to happen what I got to do.
[01:44:50]
RIPLEY: Rear Admiral Jablon says deterrence is the key objective, even winning a war against an increasingly powerful China would likely result in devastating losses for both sides.
JABLON: I'm confident that should we be called upon to fight, and hopefully that will never happen, that we would win.
RIPLEY: Submarines like the USS Mississippi are constantly preparing for war. Ready at a moment's notice for whatever the future holds.
Will Ripley, CNN -- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Still to come on CNN, another day of severe weather across the United States. It's not over yet. More in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Check it out. 1.21 gigawatts of electricity power there a lightning strike at Toronto's landmark CN Tower early Wednesday. Where's the flux capacitor? According to local reports though more than a million homes and businesses across Ontario and Quebec lost power because of (INAUDIBLE) thunderstorms as well as some freezing rain.
After another day of extreme weather in the United States more than 50 million people from Texas to New York are under some kind of severe storm threat.
At least five people were killed after possible tornado tore through southeastern Missouri early Wednesday. The state governor says during a phone call with the U.S. President Joe Biden offered to do anything he could to help.
And take a look at this dramatic video as a tornado whipped through a field in Iowa. There are more than 320 storm reports across the U.S. on Tuesday and on Wednesday.
Let's go to CNN meteorologist Britley Ritz at the weather center with more on all of this. It's what is it looking a little bit of clearing up? What are we looking at?
BRITLEY RITZ, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not as severe as it was over the past few days, thankfully, but we still have the threat for stronger storms, especially down in Texas around the overnight and early morning hours. It turns more to a flooding threat.
But here's that rain. Most of it concentrated across the Tennessee Valley back down into Texas, Houston starting to tap into a few raindrops, most of it down south of San Antonio, Corpus Christi next in line.
This is going to be an ongoing situation through the next 24 hours. So areas highlighted in green where we have that threat for a few stronger storms over the upcoming hours from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, Nashville, Jackson, Mississippi back down into Houston hail one of the bigger concerns. I mean, we had hail reports covering roadways all across the-- all across the ground for that matter, but damaging winds also a big concern. We're talking 65 mph, if not stronger at times for wind gusts.
And then flooding. Flooding one of the bigger concerns. You'll see areas highlighted in yellow from south Texas, Houston included back in Alexandria, Louisiana, even into parts of Mississippi, where we will likely pick up an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain isolated higher amounts are possible until Thursday morning, really tapping into that heavy rain across south Texas around 11:00 central time. Houston getting your heaviest rain through the early morning hours on Friday. Then finally, it starts to taper back again late Friday.
[01:49:46] RITZ: But again flood watches in place through most of Thursday, these areas are likely to start to see creeks and streams start to spill over, especially as we pull in another 2 to 4 inches of rain.
But just a friendly reminder some safety tips here to stay away from the water. If you come across the road and water, turn around, find a different route. It only takes six inches to lose control; and to pick you up and to take your car, 12 inches to two feet. So we have to keep that in mind, John.
VAUSE: Let's just stay home for a bit.
RITZ: Yes.
VAUSE: Thanks, Britley.
Well authorities are planning to evacuate 2,500 families living near a volcano in northwestern Colombia. The government raised the volcano's alert level to orange last week after a surge of seismic activity, suggesting it could erupt in the coming days or weeks.
Authorities say children must be evacuated even if adult family members decide to stay. Plans are also being made for the transport of livestock and pets.
A suspect is in custody after a horrific ax attack at a daycare center in southern Brazil. Police say four children were killed, four others were injured on Wednesday. The children who died were between five and seven years old.
A police officer told CNN the 25 year old suspect likely jumped a wall before attacking the children on a playground. He fled when teachers came to the children's defense, but later surrendered to police.
Brazil's president has expressed condolences over this tragedy, saying that children were innocent and defenseless.
No date has been set, but it now appears former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence of Hang Mike Pence fame will testify before a federal grand jury in Washington. That's because Pence has chosen not to appeal a federal court order that he testify about his interactions with former president Donald Trump leading up to the January six attacks on the U.S. Capitol. But there are limits to what Pence may be willing to discuss.
As CNN's Katelyn Polantz explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Mike Pence, the former vice president is going to comply with an unprecedented subpoena that he received in a federal investigation to testify about Donald Trump, the man that he served under during his presidency.
Now this subpoena came in the special counsel's investigation related to January 6th. Pence -- they had been seeking Pence's testimony. But he went to court, as did Trump to try and block it.
At the end of the day, a judge had ruled that Pence would need to show up to testify. Donald Trump wouldn't be able to draw a line of secrecy around the presidency, and even though Pence was able to successfully argue that some things he did on January 6th may be protected because he was then operating as a member of congress or a quasi member of congress as he was presiding over the Senate on January 6th as they certified the presidency. He is not going to be able to hold off talking about conversations where Donald Trump may have been acting corruptly and talking to him about what could happen on January 6th.
We know that Donald Trump wanted to block the election's result, and he wanted Mike Pence to be the person that stood up and said to congress No, Donald Trump should be president, Joe Biden should not be president, even though that is the result of the election, and we know that the special counsel's office has been looking very closely into that wanting testimony directly from Mike Pence, the vice president at the time.
Now Pence with this statement, is saying also that he's not going to be appealing. And that means we now wait to see when the special counsel's office will call him before that grand jury in Washington still investigating Donald Trump for possible crimes related to January 6th.
Katelyn Polantz, CNN -- Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Still to come here on CNN, the invitation is about to be sent out for the coronation of King Charles and they reveal a new title for his wife, Camilla. What is it? We'll tell you as well as (INAUDIBLE) plans for the ceremony after the break.
[01:53:30]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Mark your calendars if you haven't already -- one month away now from the coronation of Britain's King Charles III. But one world leader will not be there.
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden is a no show. First Lady Jill Biden will lead the U.S. delegation. Officials say the president and the king spoke by phone on Wednesday, stressing the special relationship between both countries.
Meantime Buckingham Palace has released images of the coronation invitation. Rich with symbolism and features the first public mention of Camilla by her future title consort no more, just Queen Camilla.
CNN's Max Foster has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: A huge amount of symbolism on one simple piece of card. The part that royal watchers really focused in on though was how Camilla was titled Queen Camilla. Up until now she's been known as queen consort. We were always told to be queen consort, Queen Elizabeth said she wanted her to be known as queen consort as well.
There's always been sensitivity around Camilla's titles, particularly the queen one because it was one that was destined for Charles's first wife, Diana. So the big question is will British people accept Camilla, with the title that was destined for Diana.
We'll have to wait and see. But so far the response has been pretty positive. And it's clear that Charles is insistent on his wife becoming known now as Queen Camilla really living up to that full title.
Elsewhere in the card, all sorts of symbolism a green man from ancient mythology representing rebirth and a new reign of King Charles. Also the groups of flowers there, flowers that are very fondly held in the king's heart in groups of three to represent Charles III, which is his title. Also a unicorn and a boar and a lion which are representatives from the king and queen's coats of arms. So a huge amount of work has gone in to that invitation.
We also got a bit more information about the coronation itself. We understand that Prince George will walk behind Charles and Camilla as a page at the coronation so big moment for him. He will have his own coronation one day in time, and he'll be walking alongside Camilla's grandchildren as well. So, let's hope they all behave.
Max Foster, CNN -- London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: But what about Harry and Meghan? Will they be a show? Who knows? We'll find out maybe the next couple of days.
Thank you for watching. I'm John.
CNN NEWSROOM continues with my friend and colleague Paula Newton.
See you back here tomorrow.
[01:57:39]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
