US Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday despite strong Chinese protests that she should refrain from visiting the island nation. At the meeting with Tsai Ing-wen, Pelosi made it “unequivocally clear” that the US would not “abandon” the island. She left Taiwan later after pledging solidarity and hailing its democracy.
Pelosi referred to Taiwan as an “inspiration to all freedom-loving people.”
“The world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy. America’s decision to preserve democracy here in Taiwan remains iron-clad,” she added.
Earlier, China has issued a stern warning saying the US would “pay the price” for Pelosi’s visit. Taiwan is a self-ruled country, but is seen as a breakaway province by China which wants to eventually reunite with it.
“Forty-three years ago, America made a promise to always stand with Taiwan… today our delegation came to Taiwan to make it unequivocally clear we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan,” said Pelosi making a reference to the Taiwan relations act.
Our delegation had the distinct privilege of meeting with the President of Taiwan @Iingwen today.
We discussed how America & Taiwan can deepen our economic ties, further strengthen our security partnership & defend our shared democratic values. pic.twitter.com/VL509UYK4x
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 3, 2022
Early on Wednesday morning, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng summoned US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, to object against the US politician’s visit to the Taiwanese island.
Chinese Communist Party run Global Times reported that, in retaliation to the visit, China launched massive military drills around the island of Taiwan, including a long-range live fire drill in the Taiwan Straits and a live fire conventional missile drill to the east of the island, with analysts saying China is not merely targeting a visiting 82-year-old US politician, but is eyeing the anti-secession campaign against the secessionist Taiwan authorities and is to concretely speed up the reunification process.
The PLA will also conduct a series of live fire military drills from August 4 to 7 in six different areas that encircle the island of Taiwan from all directions, said to the Xinhua News Agency.
China’s Eastern Theatre Command in a statement said a multi-force exercise involving the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Joint Logistics Support Force, took place in the air and sea to the north, southwest and southeast of Taiwan on Wednesday.
A furious China has also economically retaliated to Pelosi’s visit by curbing the import of fruit and fish from Taiwan while stopping shipments of sand to the self-governed island.
China’s maneuvering has ruffled not just Taiwan, but also Japan. “The maritime areas announced by the Chinese side as those to be used for military exercises… overlaps with Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Considering the live-fire training nature of this military activity, Japan has expressed concerns to the Chinese side,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
