The landing of top US politician Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan has sparked huge diplomatic turmoil with China. After threatening gestures in the run-up to the trip, China conducted a deterrent maneuver toward the US around the arrival: 21 fighter jets violate Taiwan’s airspace. Beijing’s military is “wary” about visiting the island. The United States, for its part, allowed military ships to cruise in the region.
According to Chinese state television “CCTV”, the Chinese SU-35 fighter jets had flown over the sea route from the Taiwan Strait. There have also been massive Chinese troop movements around Taiwan in recent days – and China has begun major military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, including live ammunition.
But apparently the United States does not want to be impressed – Pelosi landed in the capital Taipei on Tuesday evening (local time).
“Whoever plays with fire will die in it”
The US actions in Taiwan are “extremely dangerous,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. “Whoever plays with fire will die,” the ministry said. In response, China announced target practice in six sea areas around the Democratic Island Republic.
Army ‘on high alert’
“The People’s Liberation Army of China is on high alert and will respond with a series of targeted military actions,” a defense ministry spokesman said Tuesday evening. The maneuvers served as “a serious deterrent to the recent escalation of negative US steps on the Taiwan issue and as a grave warning to the independence forces seeking secession,” the spokesman said.
It is about repelling “the interference of foreign troops and separatist attempts by independence forces in Taiwan”.
Russia jumps to China’s side
China received support from Russia on Tuesday. Russia accused the US of provoking the People’s Republic with Pelosi’s visit. Such a visit would put the US on a collision course with China and fuel tensions in the region, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the presidential office, told the Moscow press.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also spoke of a provocation on the part of the US and stated that Russia supports the Beijing government’s one-China policy. Russia rejects any form of independence for Taiwan.
Taiwan increased combat readiness
Pelosi, meanwhile, pledged US support to Taiwan upon arrival. Her visit underscores the “unwavering commitment of the United States to support vibrant democracy in Taiwan,” the Democrat said after landing in the capital Taipei.
In response to the military twitch, Taiwan had increased its combat readiness, the CNA news agency reported. The two-stage alarm system is not yet an “emergency” classification, but rather a “normal operational readiness”. Simultaneously with the Chinese military actions, several American military ships were crossing the Taiwan region. In the south of the island is the aircraft carrier “USS Ronald Reagan”, the US Navy said on Twitter.
US: “No reason for conflict”
The White House warned Beijing of an escalation. “There is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit, in line with long-standing US policy, into a crisis or conflict,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby said at the White House on Monday. The US would not participate in “saber rattling,” he said. “At the same time, let’s not be intimidated.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
