Putin spokesman now reacts to military action off Taiwan's coast: "It's China's sovereign right"
Created: 04/08/2022 14:01
By: Franziska Schwarz
The visit of US top politician Pelosi to the conflict partner enraged China.
There are military maneuvers again — news ticker on Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
China
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Taiwan
conflict
: China resumes military exercises off
Taiwan's coast
Pelosi
in
Taiwan
: Beijing threatens 'punishment' for 'insulting' China
Conflict
with
China
: Pelosi pledges US support for Taiwan
This
news ticker on
Nancy Pelosi's visit
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Update from August 4, 1:42 p.m
.: Russia holds in the Taiwan conflict to its ally China: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov first interfered with a comparison to Ukraine.
Now said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"As for the maneuvers, that is China's sovereign right."
Since August 4, China has been conducting military exercises around Taiwan.
Long-range missiles were fired in the strait separating the island from the mainland and east of it.
Peskow also once again disapproved of Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taipei: "It was a completely unnecessary visit and an unnecessary provocation."
Chinese military H-6K bombers © Wang Guosong/Xinhua/AP/dpa
China in conflict with Taiwan: Foreign Minister cancels meeting
Update from August 4, 11:54 a.m
.: China’s foreign minister cancels a meeting with Japan in the Taiwan conflict: Wang Yi no longer wants to meet his Japanese minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, on the sidelines of an Asean conference.
This was confirmed by a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman in Beijing.
She justified this with China's anger at a statement by the seven leading industrialized countries (G7) on the escalation over Taiwan, which she called "irresponsible".
You had expressed concern about China's behavior in the conflict.
Like Germany and the USA, Japan belongs to the group of seven.
After Pelosi visit: China rehearses possible conquest of Taiwan - It is "live shots"
Update from August 4, 8:24 a.m.:
China's military maneuvers off Taiwan have begun.
According to state media, the maneuver, which began at 12:00 p.m. local time (6:00 a.m. CEST), was “live shots”.
The military exercises are to take place up to 20 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan.
The state-run Chinese newspaper
Global Times
, citing military analysts, wrote that the maneuvers were "unprecedented".
Rockets would fly over Taiwan for the first time.
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Six areas around the island have been selected for the "combat exercise", "relevant ships and aircraft" should avoid the affected waters and the corresponding airspace, the state television broadcaster
CCTV
reported on Thursday.
The old assumption that one only has to stick to the so-called one-China policy to prevent China from tampering with the status quo is outdated.
Jhy-Wey Shieh, Taiwanese representative in Germany, on the German government's China policy
The Taiwanese representative in Germany, Jhy-Wey Shieh, also called for a visit from a Bundestag delegation after Pelsoi's visit to Taiwan.
"The old assumption that you only have to stick to the so-called one-China policy to prevent China from tampering with the status quo is outdated." Germany needs "an active China and Taiwan policy that goes beyond that," so shieh.
An escalating conflict would be a "disaster" for Germany.
Conflict between Taiwan and China: Announced military maneuvers begin
Update from August 4, 6.40 a.m .:
China has started its announced military maneuvers near Taiwan, according to Chinese state television.
"The exercises are beginning," the broadcaster CCTV said Thursday on the online network Weibo.
In the state media, Chinese military experts did not rule out that rockets could also be fired directly over Taiwan from west to east for the first time.
According to state media, the maneuvers are aimed at a sea and air blockade of the democratic island republic.
A possible conquest of Taiwan is also being practiced with it.
Taiwan's defense ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation.
The island nation's armed forces would act on the principle of "preparing for war without wanting war".
The military drills, which will include missile tests and target practice, were ordered by the People's Liberation Army in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
They should last until Sunday.
China and Taiwan: That's what the conflict is about
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The foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian state alliance Asean have warned of a conflict escalation ahead of the planned Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan.
The current situation could lead to "miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences between major powers," the ministers said at an ASEAN meeting in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Thursday.
Any “provocative action” must now be avoided.
China-Taiwan conflict: China's military exercises off Taiwan's coast
Update from August 3, 6:55 p.m .:
According to the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, 27 Chinese fighter jets flew into Taiwanese airspace on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defense announced this via Twitter.
The incident came as US leader Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
As early as Tuesday, 20 Chinese warplanes were temporarily in Taiwan's air defense zone.
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.
China in the conflict with Taiwan: harsh rhetoric Beijing as a distraction from economic grievances?
Update from August 3, 3:25 p.m
.: According to experts, Beijing’s angry reaction reveals a deep uncertainty about a perceived change in US Taiwan policy.
As political analysts at the AFP news agency explained, the harsh rhetoric also serves to distract attention from the economic situation in China.
President Xi Jinping wants to secure a third term, said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute (London) - this was not possible for any of his predecessors.
As a politically “strong man”, Xi now “under no circumstances wants to show any sign of weakness”.
China in conflict with Taiwan: Beijing already skeptical about Trump administration
And Li Mingjiang of Nanyang Technical University (Singapore) said, among other things, that since the previous government under Donald Trump, some politicians in Beijing have been of the opinion that Washington is increasingly supporting Taiwan's independence.
At the same time, according to experts, there is a stronger sense of identity among the younger generation in Taiwan.
Despite its aggressive demeanor, few believe that Beijing is currently planning to escalate the conflict militarily - especially since China's options lag behind Washington's, say several AFP experts.
Pelosi in Taiwan: Beijing threatens 'punishment' for 'insulting' China
Update from August 3, 2:45 p.m
.: Since Taiwan’s separation from China, Beijing has wanted to reunite the island with the mainland – if necessary with military force.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has recently fueled fears that Beijing could use a similar approach when dealing with Taiwan.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 3 explicitly threatened "punishment" for those "who insult China."
He accused the US of disregarding Chinese sovereignty "under the guise of so-called 'democracy'".
Beijing first announced restrictions on imports of fruit and fish from Taiwan and halted sand exports for the island.
China in conflict with Taiwan: military maneuvers "necessary" measure?
Taiwan, on the other hand, accused China of wanting to partially penetrate Taiwanese sovereign waters during the planned military maneuvers: A Foreign Ministry spokesman spoke of an “irrational step” with which Beijing was challenging the international order.
In contrast, the Chinese Foreign Ministry justified the maneuver as a "necessary and legitimate measure" to protect China's sovereignty.
In the dispute over Pelosi's visit, "the United States is the provocateur, China is the victim," said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in Beijing.
Pelosi visits Taiwan - now Green politicians see the EU as having an obligation
Update from August 3, 2:21 p.m
.: The EU should take Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan as a model, now demanded the green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer, despite the sharp criticism from China.
You shouldn't "shrug your shoulders" at China's "increasingly intrusive" foreign policy, said Bütikofer, according to the dpa.
In Bütikofer's view, in order to help limit the Taiwan conflict, the EU should make two things clear: on the one hand, sticking to the one-China policy and rejecting Taiwan's formal independence.
On the other hand, Beijing must make it clear that an attempt to force Taiwan under communist rule would have an extremely high price for China itself.
Baerbock criticizes China - Beijing appoints a German ambassador
Update from August 3, 1:29 p.m
.: Nancy Pelosi has left Taiwan, reports the Reuters news agency.
South Korea is the next stop on their Asia trip.
However, his government has called for dialogue out of concern about the growing tensions between China and the United States.
One wants to stay in close contact with all the states involved, said a representative of the President's Office, according to the broadcaster KBS, with a view to the visit of the US top politician to Taiwan.
The representative expressed hope that Pelosi would proceed with her trip as planned.
Your visit to South Korea is welcomed.
The Chinese government, meanwhile, responded to criticism from Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and summoned the German ambassador to Beijing, Patricia Flor.
Flor tweeted after the call at the Chinese Foreign Ministry on short message service Twitter: "Frank discussion today.
In my meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Deng Li, I emphasized that Germany stands by the one-China policy.
Nancy Pelosi and Taiwan Minister Joseph Wu took a selfie.
The US politician is said to have left Taiwan again, but the China conflict remains tense.
© IMAGO/Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Taiwan conflict fuels tensions between China and the US
Update from August 3, 1:09 p.m
.: Nancy Pelosi flew to visit Taiwan - and has thus increased tensions between China and the USA again.
Only shortly after the US top politician landed in Taipei, Beijing announced "targeted military action" in response.
The United States, for its part, had several military ships cruise in the region.
Among other things, the aircraft carrier "USS Ronald Reagan" (pictured below)" is in the south of the island, the US Navy tweeted.
Does the US really want to risk a second war alongside Ukraine? Asks
Munich Merkur
deputy editor-in-chief Mike Schier in a commentary on the Taiwan conflict.
Here is the background to the conflict between China and Taiwan.
Baerbock gets involved in the Taiwan conflict - and feels China's protests
Update from August 3, 12:39 p.m
.: “Aggressive rhetoric can lead to dangerous action: With these words, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) criticized the threatening gestures towards Taiwan
- China reacted promptly to Baerbock's criticism.
Pelosi visits Taiwan: China threatens military muscle flexing
Update from August 3, 11:31 a.m
.: In response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China has announced target practice around the island – Taiwan therefore now fears a sea and air blockade.
According to the CNA news agency, the Taiwanese military also spoke of a "serious violation" of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and a violation of the country's sovereignty.
The maneuvers are the biggest military muscle flexing since the 1995 missile crisis, when China fired missiles over Taiwan to intimidate and the US deployed two aircraft carrier groups.
Taiwan's transport ministry has already consulted with Japan and the Philippines to determine alternative shipping routes while the maneuvers are held.
Consultations were also held with Taiwan's aviation and maritime authorities on how to react.
Response to Pelosi's trip to Taiwan: China plans live ammunition practice - now even Japan is concerned
First report from August 3rd
: Munich/Taipei - Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan despite all warnings from China.
- and assures the country of the support of the USA.
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday (3 August), said her visit was also a sign "that we are proud of our enduring friendship."
Tsai stressed that Taiwan will not back down in the face of Chinese threats and will stand by "the line of defense of democracy."
Previously, China had apparently provoked a fighter jet maneuver.
Conflict with China: Pelosi pledges US support for Taiwan
Pelosi's Taiwan visit is controversial.
The politician of President Joe Biden's Democratic Party is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
The communist leadership in Beijing sees Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China, even though it was governed independently before it was founded in 1949.
While the US does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state, it does support the country's government.
Military exercises around Tawain: Government in Taipei laments “irrational step”
Now China has announced "targeted military action".
A series of military maneuvers in waters around Taiwan is planned.
Among other things, long-range live ammunition is to be fired in the Taiwan Strait - the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.
Taiwan accused China on Wednesday of wanting to partially invade Taiwanese territorial waters during the planned maneuvers.
A spokesman for the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense spoke of an "irrational step" with which Beijing is challenging the international order.
Pelosi visit to Taiwan: Japan concerned about planned Chinese maneuvers
The Japanese government, however, expressed "concern" about the planned Chinese maneuvers.
These concerns have been conveyed to the Chinese side, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.
The area near Taiwan, where China is planning maneuvers from Thursday (4 August), overlaps with Japan's exclusive economic zone.
Japan is a key US ally.
(AFP/dpa/frs)
