Beijing will retaliate with “strong measures” if US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan in August. The warning comes after the Pentagon deemed the visit inappropriate.
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde
What could be the reaction of China if the trip of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is maintained? Not only is Chinese diplomacy not giving up, but it is driving the point home. While the White House has just recalled the proximity of a new phone call between the Chinese and American presidents, planned “within ten days”, Beijing makes it known that this visit by Nancy Pelosi, if it takes place, “ would shake the political foundations of Sino-US relations “.
That the American state apparatus is divided on the issue does not change anything, hammer from the state media, the Chinese position does not change.
Red line not to cross
The remarks of one of the Foreign Ministry spokespersons two days ago were widely picked up on social media in Beijing, with added warrior sound mat. ” The US Congress is part of the US government, but China opposes any official relationship between Washington and Taipei that would go against the principle of one China. “.
” serious violation », « Red line “not to be crossed, Beijing has turned on all the “warnings”, evoking a response “ energetic which would go beyond mere rhetoric. From where maybe military warning in the United States, visibly worried that China could take advantage of this to demonstrate its sovereignty de facto by controlling the air and sea space around the island. People’s Liberation Army fighters could ” to accompany ” the plane of the speaker of the House of Representatives, thus suggested to his 20 million subscribers on Weibo, the former editor of the GlobalTimes, which would allow them to fly over Taiwan. Threats in the air or reality? For many observers, if this trip is maintained, turbulence is to be feared.
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