US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday emphasized her country’s solidarity with Taiwan, noting that this solidarity is more important now than ever, and also expressed her pride in being in Taipei.
Taiwan President Nancy Pelosi said Washington pledged to stand by Taipei 43 years ago, and her visit confirms that.
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives said that his delegation had come to Taiwan to make it clear that the US would not abandon it.
He also met with Tsai Chi-chang, the deputy speaker of Taiwan’s parliament, saying his delegation had come to Taiwan for “peace for the region” after his visit angered Beijing and sparked a diplomatic storm.
Pelosi said: “We came out of friendship with Taiwan and peace in the region.”
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen thanked Pelosi on Wednesday for her concrete action in support of Taipei at this critical moment, saying the island will not back down in the face of escalating military threats.
He also told Tsai Pelosi that he is one of Taiwan’s most sincere friends and thanked her for her unwavering support in the international arena.
Tsai added that Taiwan is a reliable partner of the United States and will continue to work with it to strengthen cooperation in the fields of security, economic development and supply chain.
Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday, the highest-ranking US official since her predecessor Newt Gingrich in 1997, defying threats from China to claim Taiwan as part of its territory.
Beijing reacted quickly when Pelosi’s military plane landed at Taiwan’s Songshan Airport after days of speculation about her visit.
China’s foreign ministry summoned US ambassador Nicholas Burns late on Tuesday and warned him that Washington would “pay the price”.
“This move is of a very heinous nature and the consequences are very serious,” Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. According to AFP, “China will not remain idle.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it was on “high alert” and announced military exercises in the waters surrounding the island starting Wednesday, including “direct fire” in the Taiwan Strait.
According to AFP, China’s Foreign Ministry said in turn: “Those who play with fire will be destroyed by fire.”
Beijing seeks to isolate Taiwan from the international scene and opposes official exchanges between the countries with Taipei.
While the White House is believed to be opposed to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday that Pelosi “has the right to visit Taiwan.”
But Kirby emphasized that the US policies towards Taiwan have not changed, and this means supporting the self-governing government of this country by diplomatically recognizing Beijing instead of Taipei and opposing the formal declaration of independence from Taiwan or its seizure by force by China.
Source: Lebanon Debate
