New Delhi: China on Friday cancelled cooperation with America on several fronts, shortly after it slapped US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and family with sanctions after her visit to Taiwan earlier this week.
Pelosi ignored a blitzkrieg of Chinese warnings and touched down in Taiwan Tuesday to demonstrate her country’s appreciation for the nation’s vibrant democracy. Though it has never directly ruled Taiwan, China considers the island as part of its territory.
“The Chinese foreign ministry announced Friday that 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 were cancelled,” the South China Morning Post reported.
The report added that cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, criminal justice assistance, cross-border crimes, narcotics and climate change would also be suspended.
Earlier, the ministry said Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan was a “serious violation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well of the One China policy”.
Pelosi arrived on an unannounced trip to Taipei Tuesday evening, met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and human rights advocates before flying out the next day.
China responded with unprecedented military drills in the Taiwan Strait, pushing ships into the island’s maritime space, and even flew jets across the nation.
China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that Beijing’s countermeasures against Pelosi’s visit were “justified and not excessive”, slamming White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby’s comment that China had overreacted.
Calling the US side a “crisis maker”, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the current situation was completely caused by Pelosi and American politicians, the SCMP report said.
“China has made diplomatic efforts to the greatest extent… all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the United States. On issues concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, China’s countermeasures are justified, necessary, appropriate, and not excessive,” she warned.
Also read: ‘Violation of our sovereignty’: China sanctions Nancy Pelosi, relatives after Taiwan visit