Response to Taiwan visit: China imposes sanctions on Nancy Pelosi

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Nancy Pelosi

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RICHARD A. BROOKS / AFP

China imposes sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in response to her trip to Taiwan.

This was announced by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

"Despite China's serious concerns and staunch opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and safeguarding cross-strait peace and stability to threaten, "justified a spokesman for the move.

The ministry accused Pelosi, who is second in line to the succession of the US president after the vice president, to have acted "viciously" and "provocatively".

The sanctions would also apply to their immediate family.

Pelosi also visited Taiwan this week as part of her trip to Asia despite massive threats from China (read an analysis here).

She saw her visit as a sign of solidarity with the island, which insists on independence and is claimed by China as its own national territory.

It was the highest-level US visit to Taiwan in 25 years.

In response, China launched the largest military maneuvers to date in the waters off Taiwan on Thursday.

Taiwan's president calls maneuver 'irresponsible'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of wanting to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait with the missile tests and military exercises.

At a meeting of the Southeast Asian international community Asean in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Blinken said there was no justification for the military provocations after Pelosi's peaceful visit to Taiwan, as quoted by a Western representative, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen called the maneuvers and missile exercises "irresponsible."

In a video address, the President urged the Chinese leadership to exercise common sense and restraint.

Taiwan will not escalate tensions but wants to maintain the status quo.