China has responded to US politician Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan by conducting live-fire military drills close to the island, as well as cutting off the transport of certain goods to the mainland.
The Chinese military drills have included launching missiles into the strait between the two territories and Taiwan’s military has responded by saying it is “preparing for war without seeking it.”
In addition to conducting large-scale wargames, China has also halted the exports of some goods from Taiwan, including sand (a key construction material), citrus fruits and some types of fish.
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The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and while the official ‘One China’ policy of the US is in agreement on this point, senior Democrat Pelosi made a speech saying that America’s commitment to Taiwan’s democracy was “ironclad.”
The United States’ policy towards the status of Taiwan has been one of deliberate ‘strategic ambiguity’ but this incident has muddied the waters further as tensions between the two economic superpowers rise.
Pelosi is the highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan since 1997 and her arrival sparked an angry reaction from Beijing, with foreign minister Wang Yi warning that US politicians who “play with fire” would “come to no good end.”
Yesterday’s visit came as something of a surprise as it had not been set in stone as part of Pelosi’s Asian trip. In July, US President Joe Biden had said of the rumoured trip that “the military thinks its not a good idea right now.”
Despite the controversy, Pelosi went anyway and received a warm welcome from the Taiwanese with only a small number of pro-China protesters voicing dissent.
In response to the People’s Liberation Army’s wargames, US secretary of state Anthony Blinked said the US is opposed to unilateral efforts to change the status of Taiwan, especially through force.
The Russian government has referred to Nancy Pelosi’s visit as an “unnecessary provocation” and affirmed China’s right to conduct such military exercises.
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