WEB DESK
China on Friday imposed sanctions on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family members in response to her visit to Taiwan and announced a series of countermeasures against the United States.
Announcing the decision on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry in a statement described Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan despite stern warnings an “egregious provocation.” Announcing further countermeasures, the Chinese foreign ministry in another statement on Friday said dialogues between the leaders of Chinese and US military theatres, the working meeting of Chinese and US defence ministries and consultation mechanism on maritime military safety between Beijing and the US are cancelled. Cooperation on repatriating illegal immigrants, criminal justice assistance, cross-border crimes, narcotics and climate change will also be suspended, it said.
Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the island in 25 years.
China views the island as part of its territory, but never ruled it since the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. The statement also said the visit constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. It gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, it said but did not include specific details about the nature of the sanctions.
In retaliation for the visit, China launched largest-ever military drills including live fire-drills with full force at six places around Taiwan which Taiwan officials said are “highly provocative” infringing on Taiwan’s territorial waters and amount to a sea and air blockade of the island. China has also suspended some trade with Taiwan. China’s foreign ministry on Friday also hit back at White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby’s comment on Thursday that China had overreacted and said that Beijing’s countermeasures against Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan are justified and not excessive.
The White House said in a statement that U.S. policy had not changed and that it “strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” According to media reports, the White House summoned Chinese ambassador Qin Gang on Thursday to condemn escalating actions against Taiwan and reiterate that the United States does not want a crisis in the region.