“We are acting in self-defence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunyong said, commenting on the issue of Taiwan and China’s military exercises.

At a press conference in the Chinese capital, Beijing, she pointed out that “the G7 had to convince America not to visit Taiwan with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” explaining, “We will not accept the G7’s failure to abide by China’s One Principle.” She stressed that “Pelosi’s visit and cooperation between Washington and Taiwan are incompatible with the one China principle.”

The spokeswoman said, “We have made clear on numerous occasions our objection to Pelosi’s visit and that it poses a threat to China and its territorial integrity,” given that “our military exercises do not pose a threat to Taiwan and the Group of Seven is acting as dictatorship,” stressing that “Taiwan is part of China, and military exercises in the Taiwan Strait were necessary and legitimate.”

Earlier in the day, the Chinese military began a water and air live fire military exercise in 6 areas surrounding Taiwan, which was announced in response to Pelosi’s visit to the island, which China considers part of.