China heightens warnings to US over House Speaker Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan
China has issued stern “private” warnings to the United States in reaction to reports suggesting a potential visit by the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Chinese Taipei.
Initially reported by The Financial Times, the trip is expected take place in August. Reporting on Saturday, the paper cited “six people familiar with Chinese warnings” as saying they were significantly stronger this time around compared to Beijing’s previous cautions concerning Washington’s attitude towards the island.
China has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the “One China” policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The United States, too, recognizes Chinese sovereignty over the island, but has long courted Chinese Taipei in an attempt to unnerve Beijing.
China strengthens warning to US about Pelosi’s planned Taiwan trip https://t.co/0J4r8yOToy
— Financial Times (@FT) July 23, 2022
Washington, which backs Chinese Taipei’s secessionist president, also continues to sell weapons to the island nation in violation of its own stated policy.
Addressing the issue of the recent threats, The Financial Times alleged that “the private rhetoric suggested a possible military response,“ citing several people familiar with the situation as saying.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in his April meeting with Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, said Pelosi’s visit to Chinese Taipei would constitute “gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”
He asserted that the trip would send “an extremely dangerous signal to the outside world.
Pelosi, a long-time critic of China, had a virtual meeting with the island's vice president William Lai in January after his visit to the United States and Honduras.
No earlier than on Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry warned that Beijing would take "forceful measures" if Pelosi visited the Chinese Taipei.
The ministry’s spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a regular press briefing that Beijing would take strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity while asserting that any visit to the island without China’s consent amounted to a violation of the One-China principle.
“If the United States insists on going ahead, China will have to take firm and forceful measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the spokesman.
Such a trip would cause “grave harm to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added, and “seriously impact the political foundations of China-U.S. relations.”
China says US still interfering in its affairs despite efforts to stabilize relations
Philippines, US kick off drills in disputed waters of South China Sea
AUKUS risks nuclear proliferation in Pacific: China
Israeli plane previously used by Mossad officials lands in Riyadh: Report
US police clear another pro-Palestinian encampment
VIDEO | Global anti-Israeli sentiment
UK forces may be deployed in Gaza under guise of aid delivery: Report
VIDEO | Afghan population endures impact of stringent US sanctions
VIDEO | Pro-Palestinian protesters march on US, Israeli embassies in Seoul
Lebanon’s Hezbollah launches drone, missile attacks against Israel
VIDEO | Gaza: Global fightback
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
