Visit despite threats from China: Pelosi visits Taiwan’s parliament

US leader Pelosi has visited the Taiwan parliament. In response to the controversial visit, China has begun military maneuvers and summoned the US ambassador.

Amid tensions with China, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued her visit to Taiwan with talks in Parliament. A meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen was also on the agenda.

At the Taipei legislature, Pelosi met Legislative Council Vice Chairman Tsai Chi-chang and other lawmakers. Chairman Yu Shyi-kun was unable to attend as he was in quarantine after traveling abroad. The 82-year-old also wanted to meet human rights activists.

Despite all the threats from Beijing, the top politician had arrived in the democratic island republic the day before for the highest-ranking visit from the USA in a quarter of a century. Beijing sees Taiwan only as part of the People’s Republic, strictly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei and had vehemently warned the USA against Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.

China begins military maneuvers

In response, China’s People’s Liberation Army immediately launched maneuvers in six sea areas surrounding Taiwan. There should also be “extensive shooting practice” until Sunday. The maneuvers are considered the greatest military muscle flexing since the missile crisis of 1995, when China fired missiles over Taiwan to intimidate it and the US dispatched two aircraft carrier groups.

The sea areas for the exercises go well beyond the restricted zones at the time, reach close to Taiwan and sometimes appear to be encroaching on its sovereign territories. Experts also expect that shipping routes could be affected.

Beijing summons US ambassador

The State Department in Beijing summoned US Ambassador to Beijing Nicolas Burns on Wednesday to protest Pelosi’s visit. Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng spoke of a “serious provocation and a violation of the one China principle,” state media reported.

As a further reaction, China’s People’s Liberation Army sent 21 planes into Taiwan’s Air Surveillance Zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday alone, the Defense Ministry in Taipei reported. These provocations have recently increased sharply, but the high number is unusual. It was about fighter jets and aircraft for air surveillance or electronic warfare.

Moscow also speaks of “provocation”

Russia agreed with China’s assessment: the Russian Foreign Ministry called the visit a “clear provocation”. China has the right to take measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said. Russia’s stance remains unchanged, that there is only one China with the legitimate government in Beijing.

“No change to ‘One China Policy'”

Tensions with China notwithstanding, the visit to Taiwan itself is largely welcomed. The stay is considered an appreciation of the island republic. In Taipei, it was also seen as a setback for Beijing, which is trying to isolate Taiwan internationally.

Cross-party Taiwanese parliamentarians welcomed the 82-year-old. Kuomintang MP Chen Yi-hsin said he hoped Beijing would not “overreact”. Pelosi represents Congress and the people of the United States, but not US President Joe Biden, he told CNA. Her visit does not represent a change in the US’s “one China policy,” which recognizes Beijing as China’s only legitimate government.

Ruling Progressive Party (DPP) MP Wang Tingyu expects Beijing to take some “disruptive actions”. However, he does not expect a reaction that could trigger a conflict with the USA.

The Secretary General of the Taiwan Human Rights Association, Shih Yi-hsiang, sees the visit as a “signal that we should deepen democracy and human rights and oppose the authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party”.

White House warns China

The White House warned Beijing of an escalation. “There is no reason for Beijing to turn a possible visit, consistent with longstanding US policy, into a crisis or conflict,” said Security Council communications director John Kirby. The US would not engage in “saber rattling.” “At the same time, we don’t let ourselves be intimidated.”

According to him, the visit does not change “anything” about the USA’s China policy. The US does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but regards Beijing as China’s legitimate representative.

Baerbock draws parallels to the Ukraine war

Criticism of China’s behavior also came from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. She again criticized the Chinese threatening gestures towards Taiwan. China’s statements regarding Taiwan have raised serious questions. “We have learned painfully in the past few months since February 24 that aggressive rhetoric can lead to dangerous action,” she said.

Baerbock added: “It cannot be in our interest if China also creates escalating economic dependencies in the region.” The Green politician had previously criticized China, which led to an official protest from Beijing. .