Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan despite warnings from China

First modification: 08/02/2022 – 17:34

Taiwanese television footage showed the 82-year-old legislator upon her arrival at Taipei’s Songshan Airport, where she was received by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

A statement from the team of the Democratic leader, from the same party as President Joe Biden, and third figure in the political hierarchy of the United States, indicated that the visit shows the “unconditional support” of the United States for the island and that it “does not contradicts” Washington’s policy towards China.

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a rebellious province, lambasted the “extremely dangerous” actions of the United States.

Jorge Heine, professor of international relations at Boston University and former Chilean ambassador to China explains to RFI that “This trip comes to question what has been until now the basis of the US policy towards China in terms of one China, … I think it’s a clear sign that we are entering a second Cold War.” He adds.

“The United States intends to use Taiwan to contain China,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Washington “continues to distort, obscure and render meaningless the one-China principle, intensifying official exchanges with Taiwan and furthering ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities”. These actions, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous.

Chinese fighter planes crossed the Taiwan Strait, Chinese state television said Tuesday, as Pelosi was about to land on the island.