US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has sparked new tensions between China and the US. On the Beijing side, this visit by the third figure of federal power in Washington ended with insults and threats. On BFMTV on Wednesday, China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, called Nancy Pelosi’s trip an “unnecessary provocation.”
“They say he landed safely. Even if it’s a ‘peaceful visit,’ it created a lot of danger, a lot of crises. It’s an unnecessary provocation,” he says on the set of BFMTV.
“We are responding to a provocation”
Beijing’s representative in Paris believes that this trip does not respect Washington’s commitments. “There are diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and the Americans are committed to respecting the one-China principle (and) recognizing the government of the People’s Republic of China,” explains Lu Shaye.
This Tuesday, John Kirby, spokesman for the White House for strategic issues, recalled the position of the United States on Taiwan, indicating that the independence of the island was not desired by Washington.
However, Lu Shaye believes that Washington is responsible for the renewed tensions in the Taiwan region. “Ms. Pelosi is second in line to the President of the United States. Her visit is obviously not unofficial.”
“If there is no visit from Mrs. Pelosi, the situation remains calm,” he said. “We are responding to a provocation,” insists the representative of the Chinese government.
“If we don’t respond, they will continue and little by little they will achieve the so-called independence of Taiwan. That is the will of the Taiwan authorities!”
Military intervention is still possible
Asked about a possible military intervention by the Chinese army on the island, Lu Shaye indicates that this scenario “is still there.” And such an intervention would not be “against the people of Taiwan.”
A military intervention would “deter or warn secessionist forces aiming at Taiwan independence and anti-Chinese forces” abroad.
Source: BFM TV
