The Speaker of the US House of Representatives arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon, on a visit that was not on the calendar of her trip to Asia.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has already landed in Taiwan, according to American Press and CNA, a television channel in Singapore.
This is the first visit by a high-ranking US official to the country in 25 years. The trip of the third most important US state figure to Taiwan has been seen as an affront by the Chinese government and Beijing said the trip would have “serious consequences”.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already reacted in a statement and indicates that the visit “is a clear violation of the principle of one China” and “infringes on the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the country. “These movements, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous. Those who play with fire get burned,” the document says. Since last week, the Chinese army has been conducting several military exercises around the region in a show of force.
This Tuesday morning, several Chinese warships and planes positioned themselves closer and closer to the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, before Pelosi’s arrival, four US ships were sent into the country’s eastern waters.
China also announced new military exercises on August 4-7, adding that for “security reasons, ships and planes must not enter maritime and air territory during this period.” However, by that time the Speaker of the US House of Representatives should no longer be in Taiwan.
In a statement on the House of Representatives presidency website, Pelosi writes that “the visit by the US Congressional delegation to Taiwan honors the United States steadfast commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”
“Our talks with Taiwan’s leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for the country and advancing our common interests, including a free and open Indo-Pacific zone. American solidarity with the 23 million people in Taiwan is more important now than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracies and democracies,” he adds.
Regarding the alleged violation of the treaty between the US and China signed in 1979, the Speaker of the House of Representatives indicates that “the visit is one of several by congressional delegations to Taiwan – and in no way contradicts the diplomacy of the States, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979” and adds that “the United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo”.
Source: With Agencies
