BEIJING: China summons US ambassador over Pelosi217;s Taiwan trip. China summoned the US ambassador in Beijing Tuesday to rebuke him over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi217;s “egregious” trip to Taiwan, state media reported.
Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng voiced “strong protests” over Pelosi217;s visit to the democratic self-governing island, which China considers part of its territory, during his talk with Ambassador Nicholas Burns.
“The move is extremely egregious in nature and the consequences are extremely serious.” Xie was quoted as saying by China217;s state news agency Xinhua. “China will not sit idly by.”
The trip by Pelosi, the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, sent tensions soaring between the world217;s two largest economies. Beijing is regarding it as a major provocation.
Xie said the United States “shall pay the price for its own mistakes”. It urged Washington to “immediately address its wrongdoings. And also to take practical measures to undo the adverse effects caused by Pelosi217;s visit to Taiwan”, Xinhua reported.
Pelosi landed in Taiwan late Tuesday, defying a string of angry warnings from Beijing.
While the Biden administration is understood to be opposed to Pelosi217;s Taiwan stop, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in Washington she was entitled to go where she pleased.
China217;s military said it was on “high alert”. And would “launch a series of targeted military actions in response” to the visit. It announced plans for a series of military exercises in waters around the island to begin on Wednesday.
And Taiwan217;s defense ministry said more than 21 Chinese military aircraft had flown on Tuesday. They flown into the island217;s air defense identification zone. It is an area wider than its territorial airspace that overlaps with part of China217;s own air defense zone.
“Taiwan is China217;s Taiwan, and Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland. Chinese people are not afraid of ghosts, pressure, and evil,” Xie told Burns, according to Xinhua.
There was also no immediate comment from Washington.
