Beijing’s moves are viewed as a direct retaliation to the US house speaker’s visit to Taiwan, during which he complimented Taiwan for having “one of the freest societies in the world.”
According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, Chinese military maneuvers around the island infringe on its territory and constitute a blockade of its sea and airspace.
The Chinese navy and air force maneuvers are viewed as a direct retaliation to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 24-hour tour to Taiwan, the most senior American lawmaker to visit the island in 25 years.
China violated UN regulations, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, and Taiwan will resist any incursions on its territory.
It stated that the live-fire exercises in the sea and airspace around Taiwan endangered international shipping routes, challenged the international order, undermined the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and endangered the region.
In addition, it accused Beijing of employing psychological warfare and urged citizens to submit “false news” to the authorities.
Taiwan, one of the largest global traders, has requested that ships find other routes and avoid Chinese practice zones for the next four days, from Thursday at noon to Sunday at the same time.
Freelance writer and photographer living near Taipei, James Chater, told that, according to reports, live-fire drills are now taking place within 12 nautical miles of the Taiwanese mainland.
This is a substantial escalation from the grey zone warfare that China virtually every day employs against Taiwan, he explained.
During a visit that enraged Beijing, Ms. Pelosi addressed the self-governed island’s parliament and hailed Taiwan for being “one of the most open societies in the world.
“Today, the world must choose between democracy and authoritarianism,” she remarked during a Wednesday meeting with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in the capital city of Taipei.
She said, “America’s resolve to protect democracy, in Taiwan and around the globe, remains unwavering.”
Ms. Tsai commended Ms. Pelosi for her concrete efforts to assist Taiwan and stated that the island will not retreat in the face of intensified military threats.
Additionally, the Taiwanese leader informed Ms. Pelosi that she is one of the island’s most committed allies and praised her for her continuous support on the international stage.
Ms. Tsai noted that Taiwan is a dependable ally of the United States and will continue to work with them to enhance collaboration in the areas of security, economic development, and supply chains.
China has sharply criticized the unannounced visit of the US house speaker to Taiwan, prompting Beijing to call the US ambassador.
Ms. Pelosi arrived in Taipei late Tuesday night and stated that the visit demonstrated the enduring commitment of the United States to the island that Beijing claims is a part of China.
“We praise Taiwan for having one of the world’s most free societies,” Ms. Pelosi told the Taiwanese parliament.
She added that recent US laws targeted at bolstering the American chip industry to compete with China “offers more opportunities for US-Taiwan economic cooperation.”
Ms. Pelosi, a longtime critic of China, particularly on human rights, was reportedly scheduled to meet with a former Tiananmen Square activist, a Hong Kong bookseller who had been detained by China, and a Taiwanese activist recently released by China – before departing for South Korea, the next stop on an Asia tour that also includes Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan.
Newt Gingrich visited Taiwan in 1997, so Ms. Pelosi is not the first speaker of the House to travel to Taiwan. However, her trip comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington have deteriorated sharply, and when China is a much more powerful economic, military, and geopolitical force than it was a quarter of a century ago.
China, which considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and opposes any dialogue between Taiwanese leaders and foreign governments, has never abandoned the use of force to subjugate Taiwan.
The United States has cautioned China against using Ms. Pelosi’s travel to Taiwan as a pretext for military action.
Wednesday, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that the military exercises are legitimate and intended to discourage Taiwan.
Earlier, China’s customs bureau announced a ban on Taiwanese citrus fruits, white-striped hairtail, and horse mackerel.
The two sides, which divided in 1949 following a civil war, have no official contact but have multibillion-dollar business ties, especially in the flow of Taiwanese-made processor chips used by Chinese companies that build cellphones and other electronic devices.
Beijing refrained from disrupting the trade of semiconductors and other industrial components.
Chips are China’s largest import at over $400 billion per year, surpassing crude oil.
Beijing’s ambassador to London, one of his country’s most senior diplomats, warned the United States on Tuesday that it is engaging in a “very dangerous deception” with Taiwan, and that “those who play with fire will get burned.
Zheng Zeguang made the remarks during a hastily called news conference in response to Ms. Pelosi’s presence in Taiwan in defiance of Chinese instructions that she stay away.
He stated that the visit “seriously violated” the “one China” principle, which dictates that democratically controlled Taiwan cannot be considered an autonomous authority by the United States.
Mr. Zheng also cautioned the United Kingdom against “dancing to the tune” of the United States.
