His visit was no longer in doubt. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan on August 2. Footage broadcast live by television showed Mme Pelosi, 82, greeted by Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s foreign minister.
Upon her arrival, the senior US official said her visit showed the “unconditional support” the United States ” to the democratic dynamics of Taiwan”while affirming that his coming « contradicted[sait] » not the US policy towards China. “The United States continues to oppose any effort to change the status quo” on the island, she added. Taipei also welcomed a visit showing support “steadfast” the United States.
Immediate denunciation of China
Beijing immediately denounced the attitude “extremely dangerous” of the United States and announced “targeted military actions” aiming to “resolutely uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity and firmly thwart external interference and separatist attempts at ‘Taiwan independence'”.
Earlier, Beijing claimed that “The United States will certainly have the responsibility [des conséquences de la visite] and will have to pay the price for their attack on China’s sovereignty and security.”, in the words of the spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, Hua Chunying. To support their message, the Chinese military released a martial-tone video on the Internet on Monday showing soldiers shouting that they are ready for combat, fighters taking off, paratroopers jumping from a plane or rain missiles that annihilate various targets.
On Tuesday evening, Taipei announced that 21 Chinese military aircraft had entered its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADZ), an area larger than its airspace and which overlaps at some points with China’s own ADIZ. , even its territory. Shortly before the announcement of the landing of Mme Pelosi, the Chinese television channel CGTN had previously reported that “Chinese Su-35 fighter jets” were in the process of “Crossing the Taiwan Strait”which separates mainland China from the island claimed by Beijing.
Although most observers consider the likelihood of an armed conflict low, US officials said they were preparing for possible displays of force from the Chinese military, such as missile launches in the Taiwan Strait or massive air incursions. around the island. On Tuesday, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement, ” determined “ to protect the island against threats from China.
Constant threat
Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since the Communists seized power in Beijing in 1949 and the nationalist government fled to the island. But Beijing considers the island as part of its territory to be reunited, by force if necessary.
The 23 million Taiwanese thus live under the constant threat of an invasion from China, this fear having been reinforced since the coming to power of President Xi Jinping, who has made reunification a priority.
Beijing has repeatedly warned Washington against the arrival of the senior official, which would be interpreted as recognition of the island’s sovereignty and therefore experienced as a major provocation. Last week, during a telephone conversation with the American president, Mr. Xi called on the United States not to “don’t play with fire”.
Washington practices with regard to Taiwan a diplomacy known as“strategic ambiguity”consisting of recognizing only one Chinese government, that of Beijing, while continuing to provide decisive support to Taipei, but refraining from saying whether or not they would defend the island militarily in the event of an invasion.
Russian support for China
Nancy Pelosi is the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since her predecessor in the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich in 1997. If the White House is embarrassed by the situation, John Kirby, its spokesman for defense matters, has said on Monday that Mme Pelosi had “the right to visit Taiwan”. “There is no reason for Beijing to make this visit, which does not derogate from long-standing American doctrine, a form of crisis”he added.
“The American side has betrayed its word on the Taiwan issue”, however deplored, Tuesday, Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, even before the arrival of Nancy Pelosi. He was referring to the commitment of the United States, since 1979, to have no official relationship with Taiwan. “As we see it, such a visit seems very dangerous and very provocative”added at a press conference the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun.
On Tuesday evening, Russia expressed its support for China, believing that Beijing has the right to take measures to protect its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”. For the Russian Foreign Ministry, the visit of Mme Pelosi in Taiwan is a “obvious provocation”.
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His visit was no longer in doubt. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan on August 2. Footage broadcast live by television showed Mme Pelosi, 82, greeted by Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s foreign minister.
Upon her arrival, the senior US official said her visit showed the “unconditional support” the United States ” to the democratic dynamics of Taiwan”while affirming that his coming « contradicted[sait] » not the US policy towards China. “The United States continues to oppose any effort to change the status quo” on the island, she added. Taipei also welcomed a visit showing support “steadfast” the United States.
Immediate denunciation of China
Beijing immediately denounced the attitude “extremely dangerous” of the United States and announced “targeted military actions” aiming to “resolutely uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity and firmly thwart external interference and separatist attempts at ‘Taiwan independence'”.
Earlier, Beijing claimed that “The United States will certainly have the responsibility [des conséquences de la visite] and will have to pay the price for their attack on China’s sovereignty and security.”, in the words of the spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, Hua Chunying. To support their message, the Chinese military released a martial-tone video on the Internet on Monday showing soldiers shouting that they are ready for combat, fighters taking off, paratroopers jumping from a plane or rain missiles that annihilate various targets.
On Tuesday evening, Taipei announced that 21 Chinese military aircraft had entered its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADZ), an area larger than its airspace and which overlaps at some points with China’s own ADIZ. , even its territory. Shortly before the announcement of the landing of Mme Pelosi, the Chinese television channel CGTN had previously reported that “Chinese Su-35 fighter jets” were in the process of “Crossing the Taiwan Strait”which separates mainland China from the island claimed by Beijing.
Although most observers consider the likelihood of an armed conflict low, US officials said they were preparing for possible displays of force from the Chinese military, such as missile launches in the Taiwan Strait or massive air incursions. around the island. On Tuesday, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement, ” determined “ to protect the island against threats from China.
Constant threat
Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since the Communists seized power in Beijing in 1949 and the nationalist government fled to the island. But Beijing considers the island as part of its territory to be reunited, by force if necessary.
The 23 million Taiwanese thus live under the constant threat of an invasion from China, this fear having been reinforced since the coming to power of President Xi Jinping, who has made reunification a priority.
Beijing has repeatedly warned Washington against the arrival of the senior official, which would be interpreted as recognition of the island’s sovereignty and therefore experienced as a major provocation. Last week, during a telephone conversation with the American president, Mr. Xi called on the United States not to “don’t play with fire”.
Washington practices with regard to Taiwan a diplomacy known as“strategic ambiguity”consisting of recognizing only one Chinese government, that of Beijing, while continuing to provide decisive support to Taipei, but refraining from saying whether or not they would defend the island militarily in the event of an invasion.
Russian support for China
Nancy Pelosi is the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since her predecessor in the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich in 1997. If the White House is embarrassed by the situation, John Kirby, its spokesman for defense matters, has said on Monday that Mme Pelosi had “the right to visit Taiwan”. “There is no reason for Beijing to make this visit, which does not derogate from long-standing American doctrine, a form of crisis”he added.
“The American side has betrayed its word on the Taiwan issue”, however deplored, Tuesday, Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, even before the arrival of Nancy Pelosi. He was referring to the commitment of the United States, since 1979, to have no official relationship with Taiwan. “As we see it, such a visit seems very dangerous and very provocative”added at a press conference the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun.
On Tuesday evening, Russia expressed its support for China, believing that Beijing has the right to take measures to protect its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”. For the Russian Foreign Ministry, the visit of Mme Pelosi in Taiwan is a “obvious provocation”.
