US Speaker Nancy Pelosi has met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen
been strongly condemned by China.
Ms. Pelosi, the most senior US politician in 25 years to visit Taiwan. 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,” Ms. Pelosi said, referring to the Taiwan Relations Act.
Taiwan has become yet another flashpoint amid heightened tensions and sharp
rhetoric between Washington and Beijing in recent years, with the US walking a
diplomatic tightrope on the issue.
The US abides by the “One China” policy – a cornerstone of the two countries’
diplomatic relationship which recognizes only one Chinese government – and has
formal ties with Beijing and not Taiwan. But it also maintains a “robust unofficial”
relationship with the island. That includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend
itself.
Ms Pelosi’s visit is viewed by Beijing as yet another sign of support for Taiwan.
However, the White House has been open and opposed the visit and President Joe
Biden said the military assessed it as “not a good idea”.
In her meeting with Ms. Tsai at the presidential office, Ms. Pelosi called Taiwan an
“inspiration to all freedom-loving people”, saying: “The world faces a choice between
democracy and autocracy. America’s decision to preserve democracy here in Taiwan
remains iron-clad.”
Ms. Tsai similarly praised the partnership between both places, saying Taiwan
remained a “trustworthy and reliable partner of the US”.
Read Also: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan amid Chinese threats
She added that Taiwan was “facing deliberately heightened military threats”, adding
that it “would not back down and that Taiwan will do whatever it takes to strengthen
its self-defense capabilities”.
Ms. Pelosi is expected to meet a group of human rights activists later on Wednesday.
She had earlier met with Taiwan Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tsai Chi-Chang.
As her plane touched down on Tuesday night, Chinese state media reported that its
military jets were crossing the Taiwan strait. Taiwan denied those reports at the time
but later said that more than 20 Chinese military planes had entered its air defense
zone on Tuesday.
Within an hour of Ms. Pelosi’s arrival, China announced that the People’s Liberation
Army will conduct a series of live-fire military drills in the air and at sea around
Taiwan later this week – warning ships and aircraft not to enter the affected areas.
This follows days of escalating tensions in which Chinese warplanes had already
ventured out as far as the median line, the unofficial divide separating China and
Taiwan in the waters between them.
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