To a new war? China responded to the visit of US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, who promised “targeted military action”, by denouncing the “extremely dangerous” stance of the United States. “The United States (…) is trying to use Taiwan to contain China,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that Washington “continues to distort, obscure, and deprive the principle of one China of all meaning in order to express its official form.” to strengthen exchanges with Taiwan and to promote the separatist activities of Taiwan “independence”. These actions, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous.”
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Taiwan then announced that more than 20 Chinese military aircraft had entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. “21 Chinese military aircraft (…) entered ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone, wider than airspace) in southwestern Taiwan on August 2, 2022,” the Taiwan Defense Ministry said in a statement on Twitter.
This visit comes despite warnings from China, which views the visit as a serious provocation that risks inflaming already strained Sino-US relations. Live television footage showed Nancy Pelosi, 82, greeted upon arrival by Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s foreign minister. She arrived at Songshan Airport aboard a US military plane and immediately said her visit to Taiwan showed the US’ “unconditional support” for the island.
For its part, Taiwan’s foreign ministry believes Nancy Pelosi is showing Washington’s “unwavering” support. “We believe President Pelosi’s visit (…) will strengthen the close and friendly ties between Taiwan and the United States, and further deepen overall cooperation between the two sides in all fields,” the ministry said.
Major Taunt
China considers Taiwan, with a population of around 23 million, to be one of its provinces that it has not successfully reunified with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War (1949). Opposed to any initiative that gives Taiwanese authorities international legitimacy, Beijing opposes any official contact between Taiwan and other countries.
US officials and parliamentarians regularly visit the island. But China sees a visit by Nancy Pelosi, one of the highest figures in the American state, as a major provocation. In a telephone interview with US President Joe Biden last week, China’s President Xi Jinping urged the Americans not to “play with fire”.