China’s ambassador to Britain has been summoned to the foreign ministry over Beijing’s “aggressive and far-reaching escalation” against Taiwan, British diplomacy said on Wednesday.
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British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Ambassador Zheng Zeguang had been asked to explain China’s extensive military drills around the island in recent days in response to the visit of US No. 3 Nancy to Taipei Pelosi.
“I have asked officials to summon the Chinese ambassador to explain his country’s actions,” Ms Truss, who is also a favorite to succeed resigning Prime Minister Boris Johnson in September, said in a statement.
“We have seen increasingly aggressive behavior and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, threatening peace and stability in the region,” she added.
“The UK urges China to settle any dispute by peaceful means, without the threat or use of force or coercion,” the head of diplomacy said.
The visit of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was seen by Beijing as a provocation, as the United States had pledged not to maintain official ties with the island territory claimed by China.
Beijing’s communist army has been conducting its largest-ever military drills around Taiwan in recent days. In particular, she practiced a blockade of the island using planes, ships, and ballistic missile fire.