“We will not let go of our commitment to Taiwan,” U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, visiting the island, said on Wednesday.
Article written by
Published
Update
Reading time : 1 min.
Chinese military exercises announced in retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan are violating Taiwanese territorial waters, the island’s defense ministry said on Wednesday (August 3rd). “Some of China’s maneuver areas encroach on (…) Taiwan’s territorial waters”Taiwanese Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said at a press conference. “This is an irrational act aimed at challenging the international order”he added.
Japan said to itself “concerned” It front of “targeted military actions” promised by Beijing, some of which will take place inside the Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The country “expressed concern to China, given the nature of military activities”which include “live ammunition firing”said the spokesman for the Japanese government.
For its part, South Korea called for dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the region. “Our government’s position is to maintain close communication with the parties involved. […] considering the importance of peace and stability in the region through dialogue and cooperation”, an official from the presidential office told reporters. Nancy Pelosi is due to travel to Seoul, the South Korean capital, on Wednesday.
“Today, our delegation (…) came to Taiwan to say unequivocally that we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan and that we are proud of our enduring friendship”said Nancy Pelosi during an event with the president of the island, Tsai Ing-wen.
“In the face of deliberately increased military threats, Taiwan will not back down” reacted the Taiwanese president. “We will (…) continue to defend democracy”she claimed during her meeting with n Nancy Pelosi, whom she thanked for having “took concrete steps to show (its) unwavering support for Taiwan at this critical time”.