G7 reacts to China’s ‘military activity’ in Taiwan Strait amid Nancy Pelosis visit

Enraged over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China launched a massive drill and carried out “aggressive military activity” in the Taiwan Strait. G7 countries and the European Union (EU) reacted to the move saying that there is “no justification” to use Pelosi’s visit for increasing tensions in the region.

The military exercise, which began Tuesday evening, is reportedly PLA’s “rehearsal to reunify the island by force.” The G7 called Beijing’s actions destabilising, and reiterated that there had been no change in the “one-China policy” or “basic positions” on Taiwan of the G7 members.

On Wednesday, the seven countries and EU reaffirmed their commitment to “maintaining the rules-based international order, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and beyond.”

Also Read | ‘They cannot prevent world leaders or anyone from traveling to Taiwan’ declares Nancy Pelosi

The G7 countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Japan.

The statement was also signed by the high representative of EU.

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has sparked off a strong diplomatic and military response from China.

G7 countries said they were “concerned” by recent and announced “threatening actions” by China, “particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation.”

“There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait. It is normal and routine for legislators from our countries to travel internationally. The PRC’s escalatory response risks increasing tensions and destabilising the region,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, China also initiated full-fledged isolation tactics, including an attack on the economy, against Taiwan.

Taiwan’s big corporations claimed that there were sudden import bans as at least 2000 out of 3200 Taiwanese food product imports were suspended. The General Administration of Customs said in a statement that it was banning the “import of citrus fruits, chilled white hairtail, and frozen horse mackerel,” beginning Thursday. 

The official reason for the bans is stated as concerns about pests and chemical residue. However, Taiwan believes these sudden moves are politically motivated.

Also Read | Taiwan airspace sees entry of 27 Chinese warplanes: Details

China has placed the blame for the escalation in military activity on Pelosi’s visit. Pelosi and the Biden administration has reiterated that there had been no change in the respective “one China policy” of the G7 countries.

“We reiterate our shared and steadfast commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, act with transparency, and maintain open lines of communication to prevent misunderstanding,” the statement said.