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Pelosi concludes her visit to Taiwan, which has heightened tensions between China and the United States.
Taiwan said China has sent 27 fighter jets to its air defense zone and 22 of them have crossed the mid-line separating the autonomous island from China, amid rising tensions in the region.
And China has expressed its anger over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the highest-paid visit by a US official to the island in 25 years, by announcing a series of military exercises it will hold around Taiwan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador in Beijing and stopped many agricultural imports from Taiwan.
Beijing regards Taiwan as Chinese territory, but Taiwan rejects China’s claims and vows to defend itself.
In the latest escalation of tension across the sensitive Taiwan Strait, Taiwan said it had sent planes and deployed missile systems to “monitor” Chinese activities in its air defense zone.
In recent years, Taiwan has complained about the Chinese air force’s repeated missions near the island, especially in the southwestern part of the Taiwan Air Defense Zone.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said China’s latest mission included sending 16 Sukhoi-30 fighter jets and 11 other models.
A source familiar with Taiwan’s security plans told Archyde.com that the 22 planes that crossed the center line did not fly deep into the unofficial buffer zone.
Usually, planes from both sides do not cross the center line.
Taiwan said early Wednesday that some of China’s scheduled military exercises will take place inside Taiwan’s 12 nautical-mile air and maritime defense zone, an unprecedented move that a senior Taiwan military official described as “a level of a naval and air blockade of Taiwan.”
photo released, Getty Images
Pro-China protesters in Hong Kong tear down the American flag to protest Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Pelosi said at the end of her visit to Taiwan that China cannot prevent world leaders from visiting the island.
“It is unfortunate that Taiwan was prevented from participating in global meetings, the most recent of which was the World Health Organization, due to objections by the Chinese Communist Party,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“While they (the Chinese) can prevent Taiwan from sending its leaders to global forums, they cannot prevent world leaders or anyone from traveling to Taiwan to show respect for its burgeoning democracy, highlight its many successes, and reaffirm our commitment to continued cooperation,” she added.
international feedback
In international reactions, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major countries expressed their concern over “threatening actions” by China regarding the Taiwan Strait.
In an official statement, they warned that China’s actions “risk an unnecessary escalation” and called on Beijing not to seek to “unilaterally change the status quo by force” in the region.
Pelosi left Taiwan early Wednesday, after a visit that China considered “provocative.”
During the visit, she said, the US delegation “came to say unequivocally that we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan and that we are proud of our enduring friendship.”
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen reiterated Wednesday that her country “will not back down” in the face of the threat from China.
During a meeting with Tsai in Taipei, Pelosi said she came to the region “peacefully”, stressing at the same time that the United States will not abandon its commitments to the democratic island, which lives under the constant threat of Chinese invasion.
Live fire drills
In the United States, US National Security spokesman John Kirby said that Pelosi’s visit is in line with the US policy, which is to emphasize the unity of China (one China) and there is no need to turn (Pelosi’s visit) into a crisis.
Chinese state media had confirmed earlier that the army would conduct live-fire exercises for three days, starting from Wednesday, with all ships and civilian aircraft from entering the exercise areas.
China also stopped imports from 35 Taiwanese biscuit and pastry producers, in a warning ahead of Pelosi’s visit.
Biscuits and pastries are important trade items between Taiwan and China, including Hong Kong.
About two-thirds of exports from Taiwan in 2021 were biscuits and pastries, with a total value of $646 million, Taiwan media reported.
In 2020, the value amounted to $660 million and represented 37 percent of total exports.
It is estimated that more than 100 companies in Taiwan will have to stop doing business with China after the penalty takes effect.
What is the “one China” policy?
Since 1979, the United States has agreed to recognize the “one China” policy.
This means that the United States recognizes China’s position, and that there is only one Chinese government.
Under this policy, the United States has formal relations with China, not Taiwan.
But the United States still supports the island and has promised to help it defend itself, including by supplying it with weapons.
The “one China” policy is a major cornerstone of China-US relations.
The ruling Communist Party in China threatens to use force if Taiwan officially declares independence.