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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her visit to Taiwan confirms that the United States will not abandon its commitment to the island.
In a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Pelosi made it clear that she led a delegation of US lawmakers to Taiwan to deliver an unequivocal message about the US position.
China, to which Taiwan belongs, summoned the US ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, to protest the visit.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng warned of serious consequences for the move, saying that China would not stand idly by.
In the United States, US National Security spokesman John Kirby said that Pelosi’s visit is in line with the US policy, which is to emphasize the unity of China (one China), and there is no need to turn (Pelosi’s visit) into a crisis.
Chinese criticism
China strongly condemned Nancy Pelosi’s visit, calling it a “serious violation of the one-China principle.” It warned of a “serious impact” on the political foundation of China-US relations.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Pelosi’s visit “seriously violates China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The ministry warned that the visit “seriously undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces on Taiwan independence.”
Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in twenty-five years, arrived Tuesday in Taiwan, despite US President Joe Biden’s attempt to dissuade her from going to Taipei.
Pelosi said she wanted to honor America’s steadfast commitment to what she called the vibrant democracy of Taiwan.
China had strongly urged the United States to “stop playing the Taiwan card and interfere in China’s internal affairs”, and “not to take the wrong and dangerous path.”
Live fire drills
Chinese state media confirmed that the army will conduct live-fire exercises for three days, starting from Wednesday, with all ships and civilian aircraft prohibited from entering the exercise areas.
China also stopped imports from 35 Taiwanese biscuit and pastry producers, in a warning ahead of Pelosi’s visit.
Biscuits and pastries are important trade items between Taiwan and China, including Hong Kong.
About two-thirds of exports from Taiwan in 2021 were biscuits and pastries, with a total value of $646 million, Taiwan media reported.
In 2020, the value amounted to $660 million and represented 37 percent of total exports.
It is estimated that more than 100 companies in Taiwan will have to stop doing business with China after the penalty takes effect.
What is the “one China” policy?
Since 1979, the United States has agreed to recognize the “one China” policy.
This means that the United States recognizes China’s position, and that there is only one Chinese government.
Under this policy, the United States has formal relations with China, not Taiwan.
But the United States still supports the island and has promised to help it defend itself, including by supplying it with weapons.
The “one China” policy is a major cornerstone of China-US relations.
The ruling Communist Party in China threatens to use force if Taiwan officially declares independence.
photo released, TAIWAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu welcomes US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Taipei Songshan Airport
Visit despite warnings
The US House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, arrived on a military plane in Taipei, the capital of the island of Taiwan, on Tuesday, despite strong warnings from Beijing.
Pelosi said on her Twitter account that her delegation’s visit underscores America’s “steadfast commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”
She added, “America’s solidarity with the 23 million people in Taiwan is more important today than ever,” and that her visit “in no way contradicts the long-standing policy of the United States.” She said, “The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo.” “.
And Archyde.com news agency quoted a US source as saying that several Chinese warplanes flew near the dividing line at the Taiwan Strait.
The source told Archyde.com that in addition to Chinese planes flying near the middle line of the strait, several Chinese warships have sailed near the unofficial dividing line since Monday. He added that Chinese warships and planes “crossed” the center line on Tuesday morning, an unusual move that the source described as “extremely provocative.”
He said Chinese planes repeatedly made tactical moves by briefly “touching” the center line and returning to the other side of the strait on Tuesday morning, while Taiwanese planes were on standby nearby.
But he added that the Chinese planes left the area in the afternoon, but the ships remained.
photo released, Archyde.com
Demonstrations in support of the visit.
Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has led to a new escalation of tension between Washington and Beijing.
China sees Pelosi’s visit, long a critic of Beijing, as an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp in Taiwan and has repeatedly warned against it.
Beijing says Taiwan is part of its territory – and has sent warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and warships to the dividing line with the island.
Two major Taiwanese government websites have been attacked, although no one has acknowledged carrying out the attack.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that it is fully aware of military activities and will send troops appropriately in response to any “threats to the enemy.”
Residents in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, which lies off Taiwan and has a large military presence, reported seeing armored vehicles in motion on Tuesday and posting pictures online.
“In the face of the United States’ reckless disregard for China’s repeated and earnest statements, any countermeasures taken by the Chinese side will be justified and necessary, which is also the right of any independent and sovereign country,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing in Beijing.
Chinese social media reflected fears of potential conflict and patriotic fervor in China, and Pelosi’s trip was the most popular item on Twitter-like Weibo.
photo released, Archyde.com
Demonstrators in Taiwan protest against the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives to the island.