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In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China suspended dialogue and cooperation on several agreements, including on climate change
A day after China said it was ending dialogue with the United States on a host of critical issues, including climate change, anti-drug efforts and military issues, in response to the recent visit of the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan, Taipei accused the Chinese military of simulating an attack on its main island.
Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry said in a statement that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched “several” warships and aircraft to the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the ministry, Taiwan fired flares on Friday evening to warn seven drones that were seen over the Kinmen Islands along China’s east coast and other unidentified aircraft flying over the Matsu Islands.
“Possible simulated attack,” the ministry said.
China conducted large-scale military exercises after Pelosi’s brief visit to the self-governing island claimed by China as its own. Pelosi’s visit has infuriated Beijing, which has launched unprecedented military exercises, including firing ballistic missiles at the capital, Taipei, a move condemned by the United States and other Western allies.
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Chinese media said the drills, which began this week, are part of rehearsals for the war plan. China is expected to continue the drills until noon on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Dialog suspended
Despite Chinese warnings, Pelosi traveled to Taiwan on Wednesday, becoming the most significant American visitor in 25 years to the island.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has pledged to take it back by force, if necessary.
Reacting furiously to Pelosi’s visit, China suspended dialogue and cooperation on several agreements, including on climate change.
Last year, the two superpowers, which are also the world’s two biggest polluters, pledged to work together to accelerate climate action this decade. The two countries have promised to meet regularly to “address the climate crisis”.
Reacting to China’s decision, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world demands that the two superpowers continue to work together.
“For the secretary general, there is no way to solve the world’s most pressing problems without effective dialogue and cooperation between the two countries,” Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric told AFP.
China’s Foreign Ministry also announced its decision to suspend exchanges on combating cross-border crime and drug trafficking, a decision described by the United States as “irresponsible”.
China’s moves also include canceling future phone calls and meetings between the two countries’ defense leaders, for which no future dates have been announced, CNN reported.
China has also canceled annual naval meetings under the China-US military maritime consultation mechanism.
Penalties against Pelosi
China also imposed sanctions on Pelosi and his immediate family in response to what the Chinese Foreign Ministry described as “blatant provocation”.
“In response to Pelosi’s blatant provocation, China decides to adopt sanctions against Pelosi and his immediate family members in accordance with the relevant laws of the People’s Republic of China,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement. .
The statement, however, did not provide specific details on the nature of the sanctions against the Speaker of the United States House.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
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