US Speaker leaves; China promises to take action against "offenders," sends ships and jets near to Taiwan
Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House, arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday despite repeated and severe warnings and threats from China.
State media stated that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised on Wednesday to penalise individuals who displease Beijing in the wake of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. "What a terrible farce this is. Under the cover of "democracy," the United States is transgressing Chinese sovereignty; those who do so will face retribution.
Wang made this statement in Phnom Penh, outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering.
Tuesday, amid Chinese rage over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's contentious visit to the island Beijing claims as its property, several US warships were cruising in waters close to Taiwan, according to US military authorities. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House, arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday, defying a series of dire warnings and threats from China that have escalated tensions between the two superpowers of the world. The highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years is Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency. Beijing has made it clear that it views Pelosi's visit as a serious provocation, which has put the region on edge.
The 82-year-old congressman, who travelled on a US military plane, was welcomed at Taipei's Songshan Airport by foreign minister Joseph Wu, according to live transmissions from the source. She said in a statement upon her arrival that her visit "in no way violates" US policy towards Taipei and Beijing and "honors America's unshakable commitment to support Taiwan's vibrant democracy."
Taiwan said that Washington's backing was "rock strong" as evidenced by the visit. Beijing responded quickly, summoning US Ambassador Nicholas Burns late Tuesday and threatening that Washington "will pay the price" for Pelosi's visit.
Pelosi is presently touring Asia, and although neither she nor her staff have officially confirmed the Taipei visit, numerous US and Taiwanese media outlets reported it was on the cards triggering days of mounting anger from Beijing.
In response to the visit, China's military announced it would "launch a series of targeted military strikes" and was on "high alert." It quickly made plans public for a series of military drills to start on Wednesday in the waters surrounding the island, including "long-range live ammo fire" in the Taiwan Strait.
According to Taiwan's defense ministry, more than 21 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Tuesday. This zone is larger than Taiwan's territorial airspace and extends into a portion of China's own air defense zone.
