The president of the American House of Representatives arrived on the island on Tuesday. Beijing has several times warned Washington against this visit and warned that it would be experienced as a major provocation.
Le Monde
His visit did not make much doubt anymore. Nancy Pelosi, president of the American House of Representatives, arrived on Tuesday August 2 in Taiwan. This trip is likely to raise tensions between China and the United States. She is the highest American official to visit Taiwan since her predecessor Newt Gingrich, in 1997.
Beijing considers the island as a part of its territory to be reunited, by force if necessary, and has several times warned Washington against the arrival of the senior official, who would be experienced as a major provocation.
If the White House is embarrassed by the situation, John Kirby, his spokesperson for defense issues, said on Monday that M Me Pelosi had “the right to visit Taiwan”. “There is no reason for Beijing to make this visit, which is no exception to longtime American doctrine, a form of crisis,” he added.
Tuesday, Beijing said that “the United States will certainly have responsibility [the consequences of the visit] and will have to pay the price of their attack on the sovereignty and security of China”, in words of the spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, Hua Chunying. Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the announcement of the landing of M me pelosi, Chinese television CGTN reported that “Chinese hunting planes su-35” were “crossing the Strait of Taiwan “, which separates continental China from the island claimed by Beijing.
constant threat
Even if most observers consider the likelihood of an armed conflict weakly, US officials have said they prepare for possible demonstrations of the Chinese army, such as missile fire in the Taiwan Strait or Massive air incursions around the island.
Tuesday, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said, in a statement, “determined” to protect the island against threats from China.
The United States practices in Taiwan a diplomacy known as “strategic ambiguity”, consisting in recognizing only one Chinese government, that of Beijing, while continuing to provide decisive support to Taipei but By refraining from saying whether or not they would militarily defend the island in the event of an invasion. John Kirby said that this policy remained unchanged.
a very dangerous and very provocative visit “
The 23 million Taiwanese live under the constant threat of an invasion of China, this fear having been strengthened since the coming to power of President Xi Jinping, which has made reunification a priority. Last week, during a telephone interview with the American president, Mr. Xi had called on the United States to “play with fire”.
“As we see it, such a visit seems very dangerous and very provocative,” added Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun during a press conference. “If this visit takes place, it will also weaken the relationship between China and the United States, I am sure that the United States understands this,” he added.
To support their message, the Chinese soldiers broadcast on Monday on the Internet, a martial tone showing soldiers shouting that they are ready for combat, hunters taking off, paratroopers jump from an aircraft or a rain of missiles that destroy various targets.