China threatens to act if Pelosi visits Taiwan
China on Monday warned that its military will “not sit idly by” if the US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as its own.
The latest warning, issued by the Chinese foreign ministry, came as Pelosi landed in Singapore earlier on Monday on a four- nation tour including Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. There is speculation that Pelosi will also visit Taiwan, a possibility that has already enraged Beijing.
Speaking at the foreign ministry briefing, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China would like to warn the US again that the “People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will never sit idly by” if the US diplomat visits Taiwan.
“China will definitely take resolute and strong countermeasures to defend its own sovereignty and territorial integrity. What the US should do is to abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, fulfil President (Joe) Biden’s promise not to support ‘Taiwan independence’, and not allow it,” Zhao was quoted as saying by the paper.cn.
Zhao added because of Pelosi’s status as the “No 3 official of the US government”, a visit to Taiwan would “lead to egregious political impact”.
“The one-China principle is the pinnacle of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is the US that is constantly distorting and hollowing out the oneChina policy on the Taiwan issue and making irresponsible remarks,” Zhao said.
Separately, the PLA on Monday marked its 95th anniversary amid rising tension over Taiwan with announcements about advancements made in new weaponry including a hypersonic missile, amphibious assault ship, aerial tanker and large destroyers, state media reports said.
China has, for the first time, revealed a video featuring the launch of what resembled a
DF-17 missile, a report in the state-run Global Times said, adding that the “aircraft carrier killer” is “almost impossible to intercept” and linking to tension over Taiwan Strait.
The tabloid also reported late on Sunday that China’s nextgeneration aerial tanker, the YU-20, joined combat readiness training, as the aircraft is expected to boost other fighter aircraft’s long- range operational capabilities.
The report quoted PLA air force’s Senior Colonel Shen Jinke as vowing to “…safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with warplane sorties around the island of Taiwan”.