August 16, 2022

China has imposed sanctions on seven Taiwanese politicians

China has included 7 Taiwanese politicians in the list of supporters of the independence of the island. A sanction was introduced against them. This was reported by "Xinhua" .

The restrictions have affected Taiwan's representative to the US, Xiao Meixing, Taiwan's deputy speaker of parliament Sai Sichan, who met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other politicians. China called them "extreme separatists who support the island's independence".

Let us remind you that on August 14, the delegation of the US Congress headed by Senator Ed Markey came to Taiwan for a two-day visit. Besides Mark, 4 other senators arrived in Taiwan.

In response to the visit, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) began military exercises near Taiwan's territorial waters and airspace . The Chinese Foreign Ministry described the visit of American congressmen as playing with fire .

For information, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived at Taipei's Songshan Airport on the evening of August 2 and returned on August 3, less than a day on the island. This was the first visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress to the island since 1997. In Taiwan, Pelosi met with the head of the island's administration, Sai Ingwen.

This event strained the relations between the United States and China. Official Beijing began military exercises near Taiwan before Pelosi's arrival. After the visit, training was started in several areas around the island.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly protested and condemned the politician's visit. It was emphasized that his trip would seriously violate the principle of "One China" and the provisions of the three China-US communiques. Beijing also urged Washington to stop using Taiwan to control China. In addition, the diplomatic department assured that it will take all necessary measures to protect the country's sovereignty.

According to the White House, Pelosi's visit to Taiwan did not violate China's sovereignty, and the US administration assured that it "will not allow itself to be intimidated." American officials insist that there is no reason for the escalation of tension in the region.

The Kremlin called Pelosi's trip a provocation that would increase tensions in the region. The press secretary of the president, Dmitry Peskov, drew attention to the fact that all the countries of the world are taking note of this and noted Russia's solidarity with China.

Chinese military put on high alert after Pelosi's visit. The army has started military exercises at several points around Taiwan.

The China-Taiwan issue

Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in the Chinese Civil War. Since then, Taiwan has retained the flag and other attributes of the former Republic of China that existed on the mainland before the Communists came to power.

The United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 and established them with the PRC. While recognizing the "one China" policy, Washington maintains relations with the Taipei administration and supplies arms to the island. In 2020, the administration of former US President Donald Trump significantly intensified communications and exchanges with Taiwan amid heightened tensions with Beijing over the situation in Hong Kong, much to the dismay of PRC officials.

The US is Taiwan's main arms supplier. In April of this year, the State Department approved a $95 million contract to maintain Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.