Heartfelt support from Chinese netizens for sanctions against Pelosi

Chinese netizens have swarmed to social media to express firm and full support for and confidence in the central government’s measures to tackle the US after Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced countermeasures against the US’ provocation and sanctions against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi due to her Taiwan island visit.

This is a slap in the face of some US media, which recently claimed that Chinese people are losing faith in the government amid the ongoing Taiwan Straits tension.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday announced sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family in accordance with the law, for seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China principle, and threatening the peace of the Taiwan Straits. On the same day, China also announced countermeasures against the US, canceling or suspending bilateral cooperation in eight fields.

Though netizens in the mainland expressed disappointment after Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday, they came to understand and support the government’s multiple countermeasures in the military, diplomatic and economic areas. The people have never lost confidence in the government, and China fully understands the importance of patience and calmness, observers said.

“Sanction Pelosi” soon became the top trending topic on Sina Weibo, with over 240 million reads and 36,000 comments within an hour after the announcement. Meanwhile, five other topics related to the fallout of Pelosi’s visit were on the top 10 trending list, including the People’s Liberation Army’s missile launches during the drills.

“It was not honest to say I was not upset after Pelosi landed in Taiwan, but my heart revived after seeing our counterattack!” said a Weibo user.

“Now I understand that the great power game is a long-lasting one. I trust my country!” said another net user.