Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan: “To support its vibrant democracy” – World

A US Air Force plane used by US spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi on her mission to Asia has just landed in Taipei. Chinese People’s Liberation Army Su-35 fighters “cross the Taiwan Strait”.. It is the alert of the official Chinese media, which did not specify their number.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives descended from the ladder of a US Air Force Boeing C-40C plane and just landed at Taipei Songshan Airport to receive Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. According to the direct broadcast required by the same ministry. Pelosi is the first speaker to visit the island after Newt Gingrich’s visit in 1997. As his plane neared, the capital’s iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper flashed light signs: “Welcome to Taiwan, thank you, spokeswoman Pelosi, Taiwan loves the United States.”

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Taiwan has had to beef up security due to a bomb threat at Taoyuan International Airport, while the speaker is expected to be in Songshan, to be used for both civilian and military purposes. The airport police office reported that it assigned a special team to ensure safety following the threat to place three explosive devices at Taoyuan Airport.

Neither President Tsai Ing-wen nor his office has issued any statements confirming or denying Pelosi’s visit. from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned that the Chinese armed forces “will not stand idly by,” stressing that his country “will definitely take decisive and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Beijing’s counter-steps are already on their way: overnight it halted food imports from more than 180 Taiwanese companies, a decision that Taipei media reported would “would deal a severe blow” to the local food industry, including agriculture and fishing. Similar reports last night, Chinese warplanes were seen this morning on the center line of the Taiwan Strait.According to Reuters, the warships have also been near the dividing line since yesterday, according to some sources.Tactical maneuvers “touching” the center line, the actions are considered provocative.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said yesterday that “Pelosi has not yet announced a visit to Taiwan and it is up to you.” “Nothing has changed in US policy” toward Taiwan, and “we do not support its independence,” he stressed. “Pelosi has the right to go to Taiwan,” he added, stressing that China knows that in the United States “there is a separation of powers and the room is a separate branch.” The spokesman stressed that Beijing “should not create a crisis” in this regard. Kirby, who asked Beijing “not to use the visit as an excuse to raise the level of tension,” summed up, “There have been speakers and representatives in Congress who have visited Taiwan in the past.”

The response came from the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, who stressed that “this visit is very dangerous and very provocative.” “If such a visit occurs, it will also undermine relations between China and the United States,” according to which Pelosi’s potential visit should not be compared to the one in 1997, by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, because the mistake does not make the following mistake legitimate. “We will do our best to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stressed that a visit to Taiwan would be “reckless and provocative,” adding that the responsibility for any possible consequences rests with the United States alone. Hua stressed that the US side “will take responsibility and pay the price for undermining China’s sovereignty and interests,” noting that China and the United States “have maintained contacts at different levels” in the hope that “US officials understand the importance and sensitivity of this policy.” The problem and how serious it is

Meanwhile, Taipei’s Defense Ministry said its military was “resolute, capable and confident” in its ability to protect the island from growing Chinese threats over a possible visit to Pelosi. “We are meticulously preparing various plans and forces The Diwan announced in a statement that enough will be sent to respond in line with emergency response systems and the threat posed by the enemy.

Russia has reiterated its support for its Chinese ally, accusing the United States of “destabilizing” in connection with Pelosi’s possible visit.
“Washington brings instability to the world. It has not resolved one conflict in the past decades, but it has provoked many,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on social media after China warned it. Visit the island, which Beijing considers its own territory.

Meanwhile, Asian stock exchanges closed sharply lower: Shanghai -2.29%, Shenzhen -2.92%, Hong Kong -2.36%.