In retaliation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, coming on the island on Tuesday, China is reportedly starting military activities surrounding the island of Taiwan.
In fact, Pelosi is the first House Speaker to travel to Taiwan since Newt Gingrich did it in 1997. The country’s military has been put on high alert as a result of China’s continued assertions—many of which are disputed—that Taiwan genuinely belongs to the Chinese.
“Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy. Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Indo-Pacific — including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance,” Pelosi continued in a statement that was released as soon as she arrived.
China’s defense ministry announced that in response to Pelosi’s arrival on the island, it is starting targeted military actions.
“This action is targeted at the US’s shocking recent major escalation on the Taiwan issue, and serves as a serious warning to Taiwanese independence forces or those seeking independence.”
Then, China said that military operations would begin on August 4 in six separate locations and would completely encircle the island.
Pelosi emphasized that the US pledged to support Taiwan’s defense under the Taiwan Relations Act, adding that this revealed that the US would view any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future through non-peaceful means as a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific region and a matter of grave concern to the US.
“The PRC has also taken the fight into cyberspace, launching scores of attacks on Taiwan government agencies each day. At the same time, Beijing is squeezing Taiwan economically, pressuring global corporations to cut ties with the island, intimidating countries that cooperate with Taiwan, and clamping down on tourism from the PRC,” Pelosi said.