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China threatens 'targeted military operations' as Pelosi arrives in Taiwan
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday (August 2) with a clear message for China, saying the US commitment to a democratic Taiwan is more important than ever.
In conjunction with Pelosi’s visit, China’s defence ministry announced in response that its military was put on high alert and will launch “targeted military operations”.
Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday before her arrival, and Chinese state media said People's Liberation Army would hold exercises near Taiwan from Thursday through Sunday.
The Chinese foreign ministry condemned the visit, saying it seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Pelosi said in a statement shortly after landing: "Our congressional delegation's visit to Taiwan honors America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy.”
By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be respected.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
Read my opinion piece in the @washingtonpost on why I’m leading a Congressional delegation to Taiwan.https://t.co/tLhIzvfkTH
She added that the visit by her congressional delegation, which includes an overnight stay, was completely in line with longstanding US policy on Taiwan.
Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan became the first official visit by a speaker of the House in 25 years. It drew immediate condemnation from Beijing.
Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan on Tuesday despite China warnings
Discussions with Taiwanese leadership will focus on shared interests including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, Pelosi said.
"America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy," Pelosi said in the statement, issued as China condemned her visit and said it would badly damage Sino-US relations.
In a Washington Post opinion piece released shortly after she landed, Pelosi slammed the Chinese Communist Party’s “brutal crackdown” against “political freedoms and human rights” in Hong Kong as well as Tibet.
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She went on to say that “Beijing is perpetrating genocide” against Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang.
Pelosi also outlined her reasons for visiting, praising Taiwan's commitment to democratic government while criticizing China as having dramatically increased tensions with Taiwan in recent years.
Pelosi wrote: "In the face of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) accelerating aggression, our congressional delegation's visit should be seen as an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan."
levantnews-france24
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