China has reacted furiously to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, the highest-level US visit to the island in 25 years.
In response to Pelosi’s controversial, unannounced excursion to the capital Taipei, Taiwan claimed that China sent 21 military planes into its air defence zone, while Beijing acknowledged it had scrambled its elite J-20 stealth fighter jets, while two warships were sailing in the seas to the east of the island.
Tanks were also amassed on the coast of Fujian, not far from Taiwan, with the armoured vehicles seen rumbling down the beaches as holidaymakers stood by and looked on.
China's military also announced joint air and sea drills near Taiwan and test launches of conventional missiles in the sea.
China's foreign ministry said Pelosi's visit seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, “has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Long-time China critic Pelosi gave a speech to the parliament in Taipei on Wednesday (August 3), where she hailed the self-ruled island as “one of the freest societies in the world”, remarks which will not have gone down well with the Chinese government.
China has summoned the US ambassador in Beijing and announced the suspension of imports like citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan, a nation that the Chinese considers its own – they have often said that a visit from the US speaker to the island territory would be seen as a major affront to them.
In order to avoid being intercepted by Chinese jets, Pelosi flew from Malaysia to Taiwan, with Beijing’s foreign ministry saying ominously: “These moves, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous. Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
Also in her speech, Pelosi praised President Tsai Ing-wen, saying: “We thank you for your leadership. We want the world to recognise that.”
Pelosi highlighted the importance of the US’s solidarity with Taiwan, remarking that they are determined to preserve democracy in the country of around 23 million people.
The last House Speaker to go to Taiwan was Newt Gingrich, who visited in 1997, and he believes China’s threats are a “bluff”, similar to the ones he encountered 25 years ago.
He also said that China does all it can to “rattle” the Taiwanese people and was hopeful Pelosi’s visit was going to go ahead before it was officially announced.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said after Pelosi's arrival that the US “is not going to be intimidated” by China's threats and there is no reason her visit should prompt a crisis or conflict.
Japan also raised concerns regarding China’s military drills near Taiwan, with leading government spokesman Hiroakazu Matsuno saying: “We hope issues concerning Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue.”
Later on Wednesday, Pelosi was set to meet with a former Tiananmen activist, a Hong Kong bookseller who had been detained by China, and a Taiwanese activist recently released by China.
As part of her Asia tour, Pelosi is also scheduled to visit Singapore, South Korea and Japan, where she could meet up with prime minister Fumio Kishida.
