What does Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan mean for the Chinese government?
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(CNN) ––
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, landed in Taiwan on Tuesday night (local time), amid threats from China for her visit to the island and concerns from the Biden government.
This is the first time in 25 years that a person with her high position has visited Taiwan.
Her arrival marks a significant show of diplomatic support for Taiwan despite warnings of retaliation from China for the visit.
Last hour of the possible visit of Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan: news and reactions
Hours before Pelosi landed in Taipei, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi echoed President Xi Jinping's warnings that the United States should not "play with fire" in Taiwan.
In that sense, the foreign minister reiterated Beijing's position that any interference with its one-China principle is an "indisputable red line."
They assure that Nancy Pelosi will visit Taiwan and China launches a new warning
"The one China principle is the universal consensus of the international community, the political basis for China's exchanges with other countries, the core of China's interests, and an unquestionable red line and end result," the statement read. Wang's statement posted on the ministry's website.
Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was already expected
ANALYSIS |
Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan threatens to create further instability between the US and China
On Monday, a senior Taiwanese government official and a US official confirmed that Pelosi was going to visit Taiwan, despite warnings from the Biden administration, which is concerned about China's response to a visit from Taiwan. so high profile.
Following the news, China warned of the "appalling" political consequences of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and said its military "will not sit idly by."
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Pelosi's trip to the island was not on her public itinerary and comes at a time when US-China relations are already at a low point.
tensions
The US official added on Monday that defense department officials are working around the clock to monitor any movement by China in the region and ensure a plan to keep it safe.
Everything you need to know about the conflict between China and Taiwan: history, current events and opposing positions
The question of Taiwan - an autonomous island that China claims as part of its territory - remains one of the most contentious.
President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed it at length in a two-hour, 17-minute phone call on Thursday, as tensions between Washington and Beijing rise.
News in development...
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