Taiwan tensions between China and the USA go into the next round: Beijing's ambassador summoned

Created: 2022-08-06 04:46

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi, Franziska Schwarz, Fabian Müller

US criticizes China's reaction to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The Chinese embassy warns members of the Bundestag against traveling there.

News ticker.

• Members of the Bundestag

  want to travel to

  Taiwan

  : Chinese embassy warns against provocations

• Blinking

  with

  accusation against Beijing

  : According to the US Secretary of State, China wants to change the "status quo".

• Military maneuvers

  around 

  Taiwan

  : according to Kremlin "China's sovereign right"

• This

  news ticker on

  Nancy Pelosi's visit

  to Taiwan

  is continuously updated.

Update from August 5, 8:53 p.m .:

Tensions between China and the United States are entering the next round: The US government has sharply criticized the Chinese reaction to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

The National Security Council's communications director, John Kirby, described the moves in a telephone switchboard with journalists as "irresponsible" and "an overreaction by the Chinese".

Among other things, Kirby showed a lack of understanding that the Chinese had stopped the dialogue on climate protection with the USA.

“They think they are punishing us by closing this channel.

In reality, they are punishing the whole world because the climate crisis knows no geographical borders.”

National Security Council communications director John Kirby slams China's response to Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

© IMAGO/Michael Reynolds / Pool via CNP /MediaPunch

Kirby also condemned the sanctions China has imposed on Pelosi.

"She had every right to travel." The fact that China has also cut certain communication channels between the military of the two countries increases the risk of misjudgments, especially against the background of Beijing's "provocative military exercises".

The US does not want a crisis with China and there is no reason for such a crisis.

The US government also made this clear to the Chinese ambassador in Washington at a meeting.

Members of the Bundestag want to travel to Taiwan: Chinese embassy warns against provocations

Update from August 5, 6:38 p.m .:

The visit to Taiwan by US Parliament Speaker Pelosi led to strong reactions from China.

German MPs are also planning a trip there.

Criticism of the project comes from the Chinese Embassy in Berlin.

The Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag is planning a trip to Taiwan at the end of October.

The visit has not yet been officially requested from the parliamentary presidency, but the Chinese embassy in Berlin is already warning of provocations.

They should consider whether to [Europeans] continue to support "the dangerous and provocative actions of the US" and "drag the world into a quagmire of confrontation," it said in a statement.

The Chinese embassy in Berlin warns members of the Bundestag against a planned trip to Taiwan.

© IMAGO / photo library

also read

Medvedev's post reveals vision of new Russian empire - threats against nearby countries

Lavrov announces plans to overthrow Ukraine – expert sees signs of Russian “insecurity”

Pelosi's visit to Taiwan: China wants to end climate dialogue with US

Update August 5, 12:20 p.m.:

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has now detailed diplomatic measures it is taking in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Among other things, China wants to end the climate dialogue with the USA.

• Termination of telephone conversations between US and Chinese military leaders

• Cancellation of working meetings between US and Chinese defense ministries

• Cancellation of the meetings of the Mechanism on Military Security Consultations in the Maritime Sector

• Suspension of US-Chinese cooperation in repatriating illegal refugees

• Suspension of Sino-US cooperation on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters

• Suspension of US-China cooperation to fight cross-border crime

• Suspension of US-China drug control cooperation

• Suspension of US-China talks on climate change

Update from August 5, 10:50 a.m.:

China has imposed unspecified sanctions on the head of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

The reason is her "provocative" visit to Taiwan, which represents an interference in China's internal affairs.

As reported by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, the punitive measures are also aimed at direct family members of Pelosi.

Despite criticism from China, Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan © IMAGO/Taiwan Foreign Ministry

China-Taiwan conflict: Blinken accused Beijing of "wanting to change the status quo"

Update from August 5, 10:35 a.m .:

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

At the meeting of the Southeast Asian international community Asean in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Blinken said there was no justification for the military response to the peaceful visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, as

quoted by a Western official, according to

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the ASEAN meeting in Cambodia.

© IMAGO / SNA

In a speech after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Blinken asked the other foreign ministers in the room how they would feel if missiles landed in their economic zones.

Also present at the panel were foreign ministers and senior officials from the ten Asean countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India and New Zealand.

Blinken stressed that US policy towards Taiwan has not changed, but that China is taking increasingly provocative steps to disrupt the status quo.

China is conducting military maneuvers near Taiwan - the median line has apparently been exceeded again

Update from August 5, 7 a.m.:

According to information from Taipei, Chinese planes and ships have again exceeded the so-called median line in the middle of the Taiwan Strait as part of military maneuvers.

This was reported by the Taiwanese daily

, citing the Taiwan Ministry of Defense.

The Chinese actions are "highly provocative," the newspaper quoted the ministry as saying.

In addition, the ministry said Taiwan will not seek war but will prepare for battles.

Bundestag delegation plans trip to Taiwan - Japan and Hong Kong are also to be visited

Update from August 5, 6:30 a.m.:

The Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag is planning a trip to Taiwan at the end of October.

It should be applied for at the beginning of September at the latest at the parliamentary presidency, as the German press agency learned from several members of the committee.

The trip is not a reaction to the controversial visit by US MP Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, but had been planned for some time.

It is scheduled to take place between October 22nd and 30th and will go to Japan and Hong Kong in addition to Taiwan.

MEPs from all six parliamentary groups are expected to take part in the trip, probably two each from the two largest groups SPD and CDU/CSU.

The delegation would thus include a total of eight parliamentarians.

China-Taiwan conflict: Washington and Taipei deplore "irresponsible" actions by Beijing

Update from August 5, 6:25 a.m .:

The US government accuses China of overreacting and unnecessary escalation after the visit to Taiwan by top American politician Nancy Pelosi.

China has launched an estimated 11 ballistic missiles toward Taiwan, said National Security Council communications director John Kirby.

"We condemn these actions," he emphasized, describing Beijing's actions as irresponsible.

"China has overreacted and used the visit of the chairmen (of the House of Representatives) as a pretext to step up its provocative military activities in and around the Taiwan Strait," lamented Kirby, adding, "Beijing's provocative actions are a significant escalation."

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has also called the Chinese maneuvers around the democratic island republic "irresponsible".

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

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

At the same time, she assured that the island will defend its sovereignty and national security.

Your government is working to make Taiwan's ports and airports run smoothly and to stabilize the financial markets.

China begins military maneuvers off Taiwan coast - Taipei condemns drills

Update from August 4, 7:28 p.m.:

One day after US top politician Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China began its largest military maneuvers off the Taiwanese coast in response.

According to Taiwanese sources, the Chinese army fired several rockets during the exercises on Thursday.

The fighter planes and ships involved came within 20 kilometers of the Taiwanese coast.

Taipei condemned the drills as a threat to regional peace.

The Chinese military confirmed drills for "a conventional missile attack in multiple locations and with multiple types of weapons" off the coast of Taiwan.

All of the missiles "hit their target precisely" and tested "the hitting precision and area defense capability."

Chinese military maneuvers off the Taiwanese coast: Taipei speaks of "irrational actions"

Taipei spoke of "irrational actions that undermine peace in the region".

China has launched 11 Dongfeng ballistic missiles, Taiwan's government said.

She gave no details on where the missiles landed and whether they flew over the island.

news agency

learned from Chinese military circles that the maneuvers were in preparation "for an actual fight".

Should Taiwanese forces "deliberately come into contact with the Chinese military" or "accidentally fire a weapon," Beijing's armed forces would "take strict countermeasures."

In this case, the Taiwanese side must “bear all the consequences”.

Update from August 4, 4:39 p.m

.: Kinmen is an island group with around 100,000 inhabitants just off the coast of China.

Its communist rulers never managed to conquer it, so it remained under Taiwanese control.

But presumably against the background of the Taiwan conflict, the Chinese government is now said to be allowing military drones to fly over Kinmen - and asking the Taiwanese government how to react to it.

This is reported by China

.

Shooting down the drones could fuel an escalation of the conflict, but doing nothing would "encourage" more such flights, the daily judged in its report.

Military maneuvers near Taiwan: Japan reports five rocket hits in its economic zone

Update from August 4, 2:23 p.m

.: Five Chinese missiles hit Japan’s exclusive economic zone (12 to 200 nautical miles from the coast) – during military exercises around Taiwan.

The newspaper

quotes Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi with this information.

"This is a serious matter affecting the security of our country," Kishi said.

In addition, according to the Reuters news agency, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported that China's military had fired a total of 11 missiles into the waters north, south and east of Taiwan, an island.

Military maneuvers around Taiwan: "China's sovereign right" according to Kremlin

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 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "As far as the maneuvers are concerned, 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

, citing military analysts, wrote that the maneuvers were "unprecedented".

Rockets would fly over Taiwan for the first time.

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

reported on Thursday.

The old assumption that one only has to adhere 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

View photo gallery

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 explicitly threatened "punishment" for those "who insult China" on August 3.

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 has 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 vom 3. August, 13.09 Uhr: Nancy Pelosi ist zu einem Besuch nach Taiwan geflogen - und hat damit die Spannungen zwischen China und den USA nochmals verstärkt. Nur kurz nach der Landung der US-Spitzenpolitikerin in Taipeh kündigte Peking „gezielte militärische Aktionen“ als Antwort an.

Die USA ließen ihrerseits mehrere Militärschiffe in der Region kreuzen. Unter anderem sei der Flugzeugträger „USS Ronald Reagan“ (unten im Bild)„ im Süden der Insel unterwegs, twitterte die US-Marine.

Wollen die USA wirklich das Risiko eines zweiten Krieges neben der Ukraine eingehen?, fragt der stellvertretende Chefredakteur des Münchner Merkur, Mike Schier, in einem Kommentar zum Taiwan-Konflikt. Hier die Hintergründe zum Konflikt zwischen China und Taiwan.

Baerbock mischt sich in Taiwan-Konflikt ein - und kriegt Chinas Protest zu spüren

Update vom 3. August, 12.39 Uhr: „Aggressive Rhetorik kann zu gefährlichem Handeln führen: Mit diesen Worten hat Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (Grüne) die Drohgebärden gegenüber Taiwan kritisiert- China reagierte prompt auf die Kritik Baerbocks.

Pelosi besucht Taiwan: China droht mit militärischem Muskelspiel

Update vom 3. August, 11.31 Uhr: Als Reaktion auf den Taiwan-Besuch von Nancy Pelosi hat China Schießübungen rund um die Insel angekündigt -Taiwan fürchtet deshalb nun eine See- und Luftblockade. Das taiwanische Militär sprach laut der Nachrichtenagentur CNA zudem von einem „schweren Verstoß“ gegen UN-Seerechtsübereinkommen und einer Verletzung der Souveränität des Landes.

Die Manöver sind das größte militärische Muskelspiel seit der Raketenkrise 1995, als China zur Einschüchterung Raketen über Taiwan geschossen hatte und die USA zwei Flugzeugträgergruppen entsandten.

Taiwans Transportministerium beriet sich bereits mit Japan und den Philippinen, um alternative Schiffsrouten festzulegen, während die Manöver abgehalten werden. Auch wurde mit den Luftfahrt- und Seebehörden Taiwans beraten, wie reagiert werden soll.

Reaktion auf Pelosis Taiwan-Reise: China plant Übung mit scharfer Munition – jetzt sorgt sich sogar Japan

Erstmeldung vom 3. August: München/Taipeh - Nancy Pelosi besucht trotz aller Warnungen aus China Taiwan. - und sichert dem Land dabei die Unterstützung der USA zu. Die Vorsitzende des US-Repräsentantenhauses sagte am Mittwoch (3. August) bei einem Treffen mit Taiwans Präsidentin Tsai Ing-wen, ihr Besuch sei auch ein Zeichen, „dass wir stolz auf unsere beständige Freundschaft sind“.

Tsai betonte, Taiwan werde angesichts chinesischer Drohgebärden nicht zurückweichen und „die Verteidigungslinie der Demokratie“ halten. Zuvor hatte China offenbar mit einem Kampfjet-Manöver provoziert.

Konflikt mit China: Pelosi sichert Taiwan Unterstützung der USA zu

Pelosis Taiwain-Besuch ist umstritten. Die Politikerin der Demokratischen Partei von Präsident Joe Biden ist die ranghöchste US-Vertreterin seit 25 Jahren, die Taiwan besucht. Die kommunistische Führung in Peking sieht Taiwan als Teil der Volksrepublik China an, obwohl es schon vor deren Gründung 1949 eigenständig regiert war. Die USA erkennen Taiwan zwar nicht offiziell als unabhängigen Staat an, unterstützen aber die Regierung des Landes.

Militärübungen um Tawain: Regierung in Taipeh beklagt „irrationalen Schritt“

Nun hat China „gezielte militärischen Aktionen“ angekündigt. Geplant ist eine Reihe von Militärmanövern in Gewässern rings um Taiwan. Dabei soll unter anderem scharfe Munition von großer Reichweite in der Taiwanstraße - der Meerenge zwischen Taiwan und Festland-China - abgefeuert werden.

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.