Blinken urged China not to escalate
Secretary Blinken urges China not to escalate over Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan Taiwan is not listed in the official announcement of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Asia, but CNN sources say she will go there. This drew sharp criticism from China< source srcset="https://s0.rbk.ru/v6_top_pics/resized/1200xH/media/img/2/39/756593792430392.webp 1200w" type="image/webp" media="(min-resolution: 192dpi) " >
Anthony Blinken
It will be up to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to decide whether to visit Taiwan, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said. He urged Beijing to refrain from escalating if the visit took place, Reuters reported.
“If the speaker decides to pay a visit and China tries to create a crisis or otherwise escalate tension, it will be on their conscience.” ,— said the Secretary of State.
“We urge [China] to act responsibly and not take escalating steps if it decides to visit Taiwan,” he continued.
The Taiwan issue strained relations between the US and China back in April, when a delegation of six US congressmen arrived on the island to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. In response, Beijing announced exercises around the island and said that by such actions, the United States seriously undermines the political basis of Sino-American relations and further increases tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Later, China repeatedly urged the United States to adhere to the ” one China policy” (means recognizing the existence of only one Chinese state with its capital in Beijing) and not taking steps towards Taiwan independence.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing resurfaced in July amid reports of a potential visit to Taiwan by Pelosi. Her announced trip to Asia lists four countries— Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. On August 1, CNN, citing sources, reported that Pelosi would also come to Taiwan. The potential visit is raising concerns from the Joe Biden administration, and homeland security officials have tried to convince Pelosi not to visit the island, the channel's sources say.
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Pelosi's potential trip to Taiwan has drawn criticism from Beijing. If this happens, the Chinese Foreign Ministry threatened a military response, saying that “Chinese troops will not sit” hard-handed.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN that there is no reason for China's aggressive rhetoric. “There is no reason to take any steps. The visit of one of the leaders of the congress to Taiwan— not a rare event,»,— he said, “We must not be intimidated by such rhetoric or potential action. This is an important visit for the Speaker [Pelosi] and we will do everything we can to support her,” — said Kirby.
Taiwan (Republic of China)— partially recognized states 100km from the coast of China. The territory declared its secession in 1949, but China considers it a province. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a law passed in 1979 allows Washington to supply weapons there.
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