Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Highlights: China Vows 'Targeted Military Actions' As US Speaker Lands In Taipei
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Latest News: Tensions between US and China over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit have intensified. Follow this blog for latest updates.
Taiwan's defence ministry said 21 Chinese military planes flew into the island's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russia said China had the right to take measures to protect its 'sovereignty' amid US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit.
Pelosi and her delegation of Democratic party lawmakers were met by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Sandra Oudkirk, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as Washington's de facto embassy. The flight path avoided the contested South China Sea and was escorted by eight US Air Force fighter jets as well as Taiwan Air Force fighter aircraft.
China has vowed "targeted military actions" in response to Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit, AFP reported. China also slammed the United States' actions in Taiwan as "extremely dangerous". "The US is taking provocative actions that could escalate tensions across the Taiwan Straits," China said.
Nancy Pelosi said her Taiwan visit 'in no way contradicts' US policy toward China. "Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan -- and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, US-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances," she said. "The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo," the US House of Representatives Speaker said.
After arriving in Taiwan despite warnings by China, Nancy Pelosi said the visit honored America's unwavering commitment to support Taiwan's vibrant democracy. "Our discussions with Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner and promote shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Pelosi said. "America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy," she further said.
Unspecified hackers launched a cyberattack on the Taiwanese Presidential Office's website, making it temporarily unavailable on Tuesday evening. The Presidential Office said the website was restored shortly after the attack. "China thinks by launching a multi-domain pressure campaign against Taiwan, the people of Taiwan will be be intimidated. But they are wrong," Wang Ting-yu, a legislator with the Democratic Progressive Party, said on Twitter.
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has landed in Taipei, Taiwan, defying warnings by China, reports Reuters. Barricades have been erected outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei where Pelosi is expected to stay amid heightened security, AP reported.
Chinese fighter jets have crossed Taiwan Strait, AFP reported. Several videos have surfaced online showing heavy movement of armoured vehicles and military equipments in China near the border Taiwan. Videos of PLA soldiers carrying out several aggressive military exercises have also surfaced on social media. US has also positioned warships, including an aircraft carrier, in east of Taiwan. FULL REPORT
China considers Taiwan its own territory and has indicated to the US that it would view Nancy Pelosi's visit as a major provocation. The US' one-China policy recognises Beijing to be the legitimate government of China. However, it maintains informal relations and defense ties with Taiwan.
"The one-China principle is the political foundation for China-US relations. China firmly opposes separatist moves toward 'Taiwan independence' and interference by external forces, and never allows any room for 'Taiwan independence' forces in whatever form," a Chinese Embassy in India spokesperson said.
China has reiterated that Beijing would take "strong measures" in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit, which will be the highest by top US official in 25 years. "The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on a tour of Asia, has departed from Malaysia. According to Taiwanese media reports, Pelosi is travelling by a US Air Force jet and is expected to land at the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Tuesday evening. It is widely expected that Pelosi will visit Taiwan and meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday.
Background
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Latest News: Amid soaring tensions between US and China, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening. Pelosi, travelling by US Air Force jet, landed at the Taiwanese capital Taipei this evening, according to Taiwanese media reports.
It is expected that Pelosi will meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, defying Beijing's repeated warnings. China was warned that the visit by Pelosi would lead to very serious situation and grave consequences.
Both China and Taiwan on Tuesday stepped up military deployments across the Taiwan Strait, reports said. China considers Taiwan its territory and has indicated to the US that it would view Pelosi's visit as a major provocation.
The US' one-China policy recognises Beijing to be the legitimate government of China. However, it maintains informal relations and defense ties with Taiwan.
China has warned of repercussions, saying its military will "never sit idly by" if Pelosi pushes ahead with the visit.
"The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests," AFP quoted foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying at a press briefing in Beijing.
The United States has said that it would not be intimidated by Chinese "sabre rattling". "We will not take the bait or engage in sabre rattling. At the same time, we will not be intimidated," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters in Washington.
The fresh tensions, on the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, have driven concerns of a new crisis in the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and China, that could roil global markets and supply chains.
- - - - - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - - - - -