Enlarge image
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen
Photo: TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE HANDOUT/EPA
The foreign ministers of the big seven Western industrialized nations (G7) called on China on Wednesday to settle tensions around the Taiwan Strait.
This emerges from a joint statement that has been published on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
During her trip to Asia, the speaker of the US House of Representatives also visited the island state of Taiwan, whose sovereignty China does not recognize.
The highest-ranking visitor from the USA for a quarter of a century has meanwhile left again.
China had reacted aggressively to the US politician's visit: China wants to hold maneuvers with target practice around the island by Sunday.
Six restricted areas were designated for this purpose.
Taipei: 27 Chinese warplanes invaded airspace
According to Taipei, 27 Chinese warplanes flew into Taiwan's air defense zone today.
This was announced by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense on the short message service Twitter.
As early as Tuesday, more than 20 Chinese military planes flew into Taiwan's air defense zone during Pelosi's visit, Taipei officials said.
China then said the military drills, which extend up to 20 kilometers from Taiwan's coast, are "necessary and legitimate" to protect China's sovereignty.
In the statement, the G7 ministers commented critically on China's reactions: "There is no reason to use a visit as a pretext for aggressive military activities in the Taiwan Strait.
It is normal and routine for lawmakers from our countries to travel internationally."
They added that China's response could end up destabilizing the region.
Germany currently chairs the group of seven, which also includes France, Great Britain, Italy, the USA, Canada and Japan.
muk/Reuters/AFP