China has denounced as "very dangerous" Nancy Pelosi's travel to Taiwan, warning that it poses a threat to regional stability.
Pelosi landed in Taiwan late on Tuesday as part of a trip she claimed showed American support for the autonomous island that China claims as its own.Washington is required by US law to give Taiwan the ability to defend itself even if it does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state.
Minutes after arriving on the island, the US Congresswoman gave an editorial in the Washington Post an explanation of why she was visiting Taiwan.
She stated in the opinion article, "We cannot sit idly by as the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party) continues to endanger Taiwan – and democracy itself.
Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, touched down at Songshan Airport in the heart of Taipei after flying in from Malaysia to start a trip that might further deteriorate relations between the US and China.Joseph Wu, the foreign minister of Taiwan, and Sandra Oudkirk, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, welcomed her delegation.To play with fire
China promptly denounced Pelosi's visit, warning that it significantly jeopardized the stability and tranquility of the Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry.
In a statement, it claimed that the visit "seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and "has a negative impact on the political underpinning of China-U.S. relations."These actions are quite risky—like playing with fire. The warning said, "Those who dabble with fire shall perish by it.
Before Pelosi arrived, Chinese warplanes flew over the line dividing the Taiwan Strait. According to the defence ministry, the Chinese military has been placed on high alert and would conduct "targeted military activities" in response to her visit.Beginning on Tuesday night, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command will conduct combined air and sea maneuvers close to Taiwan. It will also perform a test launch of a conventional missile in the water to the east of Taiwan.
Former US deputy assistant defense secretary Heino Klinck told Al Jazeera that Beijing would likely conduct operations to make clear to Taiwan and its allies that it is adamantly opposed to any kind of independence or autonomy for Taiwan.
As a result of how they have "basically painted themselves into such a public corner on Taiwan," Chinese officials "will have to do something in the short term," the author claimed.Senior research fellow on China at the Chatham House think tank in London, Yu Jie, predicted that the Chinese response would most likely include economic sanctions against Taiwanese agricultural and manufacturing exports as well as a military standoff with the US Navy.
China will take care to avoid getting sucked into a battle that would do enormous damage on all fronts, she said, despite a chorus of nationalistic rhetoric. "Beijing cannot afford to be seen as trying to modify the 1979 agreement it made with the US on its own. If that occurs, the US political elite will be compelled to unanimously decide to amend the "One China Policy" in writing. The last thing President Xi wants is a pointless conflict with a Session speaker who only has a little time left in office before the 20th Party congress.in favor of democracy
Pelosi is traveling around Asia, with stops planned in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. She made an unexpected but highly anticipated trip in Taiwan.
The travel to Taiwan, according to Pelosi, "in no way contradicts" the one-China policy.
The liberties of Taiwan and all democracies must be honored, Pelosi stated in her letter. "By visiting Taiwan, we honor our dedication to democracy.
The trip is contentious because it could lead to a serious conflict between China and the US. China has warned the US that Pelosi's visit would result in "severe consequences" if it went forward.The president's office announced that Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, will meet Pelosi on Wednesday morning and they will share lunch. Pelosi is the first US House Speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997, along with six other US politicians.Pelosi emphasized the importance of the trip by drawing parallels between Taiwan and Ukraine, saying that "the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy" and writing that "it is essential that America and our allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats as Russia wages its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine, killing thousands of innocents — even children."Reporting from Washington, DC for Al Jazeera, Shihab Rattansi said Pelosi seemed to be portraying the visit as part of a larger initiative to support democracies all across the world.
He claimed that as soon as she came, a number of tweets, articles, and speeches were made portraying Pelosi as a freedom fighter fighting for democracy and opposing despotism.
As part of this global mission to traverse the world supporting democracy, she "compared her journey to Taiwan to her trip to Ukraine in April."
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