The visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has been denounced by China, which has notably ordered maritime and air military exercises around Taiwan as well as conventional missile tests at sea east of Taiwan. ‘island.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday that the island ” wouldn’t back down in the face of the threat from China, which is preparing to launch military maneuvers dangerously close to the Taiwanese coast in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s visit.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense promised ” targeted military actions “, with a series of military maneuvers around the island which will begin on Thursday, including ” long range live ammunition firing in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China.
These exercises constitute a necessary and legitimate measure in order to respond to the serious provocations of certain American politicians and Taiwanese separatists Hua Chunying, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, told reporters.
“Vicious Intimidation”
According to the coordinates published by the Chinese army, part of the military operations must take place 20 kilometers from the coast of Taiwan. ” Some of the areas of china maneuvers encroach on (…) the territorial waters of Taiwan said Taiwan Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang. ” This is an irrational act aimed at challenging the international order “, he denounced.
The Mainland Affairs Council, the body that sets the Taiwanese government’s policy toward Beijing, has accused the Chinese regime of practicing ” vicious bullying ” which will ” a serious impact on the peace and prosperity of East Asia as a whole “. Japan said to itself concerned by the Chinese exercises, claiming that some would encroach on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The “strategic ambiguity” of the United States
Taiwan authorities reported overnight Tuesday-Wednesday that 21 Chinese military planes entered the island’s air defense identification zone – an area much larger than its airspace. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense assured that the army would protect national security “. Several American ships also cruise in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, according to American military sources.
Most observers rate the likelihood of armed conflict as low. But US officials said they were preparing for shows of force from the Chinese military. Even though US officials visit the island regularly, China considers the visit of Ms. Pelosi, the third person in the US state, to be a major provocation. Last week, in a telephone interview with his counterpart Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping had already called on the United States not to “ don’t play with fire “.
Since 1979, Washington has recognized only one Chinese government, that of Beijing, while continuing to provide support to the Taiwanese authorities, in particular via major arms sales. The United States also practices strategic ambiguity refraining from saying whether or not they would defend Taiwan militarily in the event of an invasion.
(With Afp)