China Sanctions Pelosi, Halts US Talks Including Military Ties, As Jets Breach Taiwan Median Line
Via Zero Hedge
China has begun its retaliation against Washington by announcing Friday the cancelation of a series of meetings with the United States, namely the suspension of issues it was working bilaterally with the US on, including related to military dialogue, climate change and anti-drug projects. Most important among these at a moment Washington has expressed concern that “the risk of a mistake could actually lead to some sort of conflict” (in John Kirby’s words Thursday) – is the cancelation of military ties.
This comes in addition to unveiling undefined sanctions against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the “egregious provocation” of her overnight trip to Taiwan earlier in the week, which saw China immediately respond with ongoing live fire drills which have surrounded the self-ruled island, as well as ballistic missile firings in the vicinity.
The foreign ministry said in a statement, “In disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region,” and announced the following countermeasures in response: Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk. Canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT). Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes. Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation. Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change.
Among the most directly threatening actions thus far has been the PLA military firing ballistic missiles over Taiwan; however, which Taipei on Wednesday refused to confirm actually flew directly over the island, despite many international reports reporting such.
Literally hundreds of Chinse military aircraft and ships have also buzzed or breach Taiwan-claimed airspace and waters at this point, as the largest drills in recent history have continued to ramp up. After Beijing declared the “median line” has practically ceased to exist, dozens of aircraft have since crossed over what conventionally demarcated territorial waters of the democratic-run island.
Taiwan said in a defense ministry statement that about 20 Chinese military aircraft briefly cross the Taiwan median line on Friday morning, according to Reuters.
Pelosi while in Japan on Friday, the last stop of her Asia tour, said “The Chinese made their strikes, probably using our visit as an excuse.” She added: “They may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places but they will not isolate Taiwan. They are not doing our traveling schedule, the Chinese government is not doing that.”
She then underscored the US won’t let China isolate Taiwan, stressing, “We had high-level visits, senators in the spring, the bi-partisan way, continuing visits, and we will not allow them to isolate Taiwan.”
This is similar to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby’s assessment given Thursday, wherein he charged Beijing with overreacting. “We condemn these actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,” Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing. “China has chosen to overreact and use the speaker’s visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait.”
Australia Blasts China's Taiwan Drills As "Disproportionate & Destabilizing" - Warns Of Miscalculation
by Tyler Durden Friday, Aug 05, 2022 - 08:00 PM
The United States' closest regional partner and member of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing relationship Australia on Friday condemned China's "destabilizing" actions in holding live fire drills surrounding Taiwan, most importantly the launching of ballistic missiles over the island.
"These exercises are disproportionate and destabilizing," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement on Friday. "This is a serious matter for the region, including for our close strategic partner, Japan," she added in reference to the "Quad" group, which in addition to the US, Australia and Japan includes the large economy of India.
While also condemning the largest PLA exercises in recent history, Canberra’s foreign minister highlighted that the launching of mid-range missiles into waters off Taiwan is "disproportionate," and urged for "restraint and de-escalation" on the part of Beijing.
"Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan’s coastline," Wong said. She further echoed Thursday words of White House NSC spokesman John Kirby which warned of the possibility of "miscalculation".
"Australia shares the region’s concerns about this escalating military activity, especially the risks of miscalculation," she said. The day prior, Kirby stressed in a White House briefing, "One of the things that’s troublesome about exercises like this or missile launches like this is the risk of calculation, the risk of a mistake that could actually lead to some sort of conflict."
This after announcing that the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group will stay in waters near Taiwan for longer than expected in response to the Chinese PLA drills.
Importantly, the Australian top diplomat further underscored that Canberra won't back a "unilateral change of status quo" across the Taiwan Strait and that it remains committed to the Once China principle.
However, China has been questioning the commitment of the US and its allies, particularly given US weapons transfers to Taiwan, which Washington has stressed are "defensive" and don't constitute a threat to the mainland.
Last edited by ConSigCor; 08/05/202210:03 PM.
"The time for war has not yet come, but it will come and that soon, and when it does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." Gen. T.J. Jackson, March 1861
