China Slams U.S. Speaker's Trip As 'Very Dangerous Act'

Nancy Pelosi Says US Cannot Stand By as China 'Proceeds to Threaten Taiwan'

Sputnik News

The arrival of the US House speaker to Taiwan was condemned by Beijing as a "huge political provocation" and a direct violation of the "One-China" principle. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has released scathing statements on her official website and in an op-ed for the Washington Post upon arrival in Taiwan, accusing China of threatening the self-ruled island "and democracy itself". She stressed that the US can't "stand by" and let this happen.

The US lawmaker claimed that her trip to Taiwan comes at a time "when the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy". She added that her visit forms part of Washington's "commitment to democracy" and reaffirmed that Taiwan and other democracies in the world "must be respected".

"In the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) accelerating aggression, our congressional delegation’s visit should be seen as an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner, as it defends itself and its freedom," Pelosi said.

China Slams Pelosi's Taiwan Trip as 'Very Dangerous Act'

Sputnik News

China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday criticized US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan as a "very dangerous act of playing with fire."

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in relations between the United States and China and US House Speaker Nany Pelosi's visit to Taipei is a continuation of the push to change the status quo, China's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement in Tuesday.

“The Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue at the very heart of China-US relations,” the statement said. “The Taiwan Strait is facing a new round of tensions and severe challenges, and the fundamental cause is the repeated moves by the Taiwan authorities and the United States to change the status quo. The Taiwan authorities have kept seeking US support for their independence agenda.”

Earlier in the day, Pelosi landed in Taiwan, despite objections from Beijing.

"This is a very dangerous act of playing with fire. Whoever plays with fire burns oneself," the foreign ministry stated.

The ministry added that China "resolutely opposes and severely condemns the trip," noting that the US wants to contain China with Taiwan's help.

“China will definitely take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the US Speaker's visit,” the statement added. “All the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the US side and the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”