China has threatened the US with “punishment” for US leader Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. “Those who insult China will be punished,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday on the sidelines of ASEAN’s foreign ministers’ meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Chinese fighter jets re-entered Taiwan’s airspace on Wednesday.
27 aircraft of the Chinese Air Force entered the air defense area of Taiwan on Wednesday, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense reports on Twitter. As early as Tuesday, more than 20 Chinese military aircraft flew into Taiwan’s air defense zone during Pelosi’s visit, Taipei officials said.
China then said the military exercises, which extend 20 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan, are “necessary and legitimate” to protect China’s sovereignty.
Kremlin: “Don’t underestimate tensions”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang called the House Speaker’s visit to Taiwan a “farce”. He accused the US of ignoring Chinese sovereignty “under the guise of so-called ‘democracy'”. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also sharply criticized the visit, which the US used to demonstrate its “legality” to the world. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that one should not “underestimate” the tensions caused by Pelosi’s visit.
US shows “iron” determination
Pelosi was in Taipei for less than 24 hours. She arrived late Tuesday evening and met President Tsai on Wednesday before flying to South Korea in the early evening. The high-ranking leader expressed the “iron-clad” determination of the US to preserve democracy in Taiwan and around the world. She thanked the Taiwanese president for her leadership and called for more interparliamentary cooperation.
No violence desired in Taiwan
“We appreciate that Taiwan is one of the freest societies in the world,” Pelosi told the Taiwanese parliament. On trade issues, the new US legislation to strengthen the US chip industry vis-à-vis China offers “a greater opportunity for US-Taiwan economic cooperation”.
At the same time, Pelosi made it clear that the United States continued to respect the One China policy. They support the status quo and do not want violence against Taiwan, she said, citing Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s blatant threats to take the island by military force.
China relies on economic penalties
China had accused the US of “playing with fire” and announced a military response to Pelosi’s visit. Among other things, several military maneuvers with target practice near the island were announced. Economic sanctions were also taken. China suspended sand exports to Taiwan while banning citrus fruits, frozen mackerel fillets and chilled scabbardfish from there.
China considers Taiwan to be part of the People’s Republic. Taiwan, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that it is an independent country. However, the island is only recognized by a few countries because most of the international community – including Austria – attaches greater importance to relations with the People’s Republic of China. The US also does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but is nevertheless bound by military assistance obligations entered into after the Second World War. US President Joe Biden recently publicly assured that Washington will assist Taipei in the event of Chinese aggression.
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.
