China pledges ‘targeted military actions’ as Pelosi lands in Taiwan
China’s military vowed yesterday to launch “targeted military actions” in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is on high alert and will launch a series of targeted military operations to counter this, resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely thwart external interference and ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist attempts,” PLA spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement condemning the visit.
China Eastern Military Command said in a statement that it will carry out joint military operations around Taiwan Island from yesterday evening. It will conduct joint sea air training in airspace north, southwest, southeast of the Taiwan island and will conduct long-range live firing in Taiwan Strait.
These military operations are targeted at recent United States actions on the Taiwan issue, the command said in the statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that Pelosi’s visit is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence.” China firmly opposes and sternly condemns this, and has made serious démarche and strong protest to the United States, the ministry said.
There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This has been clearly recognized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971, the ministry further pointed out.
The National People’s Congress Standing Committee said that the one-China principle is the premise for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US, and is also the political foundation of China-US relations.
The US has made solemn commitment to China on the Taiwan question, but in real action, it has constantly upgraded substantive relations and official exchanges with Taiwan, emboldened and supported “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, attempted to use Taiwan to contain China, and severely undermined the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, it added.
The Chinese government and the Chinese people have taken and will continue to take resolute and forceful measures to firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
The Taiwan question bears on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. For China, there is zero room for compromise and not an inch to give. The Anti-Secession Law has made clear stipulations on major issues, including upholding the one-China principle, deterring separatist moves toward “Taiwan independence” and opposing interference in the Taiwan question by external forces.
The stance of the Chinese government and the Chinese people on the Taiwan question has been consistent. It is the firm will of over 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any attempt to obstruct China’s complete reunification and great national rejuvenation is doomed to fail, the NPC said.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee said in a statement: “We urge the US side to honor its words, cease any kind of official exchanges with China’s Taiwan region, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop sending any wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and not to go further down the dangerous path. Any erroneous act that goes against the historical trend, aims to make an issue out of the Taiwan question and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is doomed to fail, and will boomerang in the end.”