As expected, China is not satisfied with Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. On Tuesday, a prominent American politician visited the island, which China considers a breakaway region. As a result, tensions between China and the United States continue to rise.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the United States would punish Pelosi’s visit. “This is a complete charade. The United States is violating China’s sovereignty under the guise of so-called democracy. Anyone who insults China will be punished.”
The minister did not clarify the nature of the penalties. Beijing has summoned the US ambassador to the front and has previously threatened to retaliate if Pelosi visits Taiwan. Military maneuvers that will obstruct Taiwan’s air and sea space have already been announced.
China is also increasingly restricting commercial exports to Taiwan. Chinese customs announced on Wednesday that it will suspend the import of citrus fruits and some types of fish from Taiwan. The Ministry of Economy has stopped exporting sand to Taiwan.
Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, has expressed support for the island in Taiwan. “While we respect the ‘one-China policy’, our solidarity with Taiwan is now more important than ever. The United States supports the status quo and does not want to change Taiwan’s status with military intervention.”
Because of China’s actions, Taiwan is holding consultations with Japan and the Philippines, among other countries, about alternative air routes. Al Jazeera wants to prevent it from completely shutting down. Japan and South Korea have already expressed their concerns about the situation, and the two countries want to maintain peace in the region.
