Friday 7 a.m.: US House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has led to massive tensions with China. The Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag is now also planning a trip to Taiwan for the end of October. It should be applied for at the beginning of September at the latest at the parliamentary presidency, as the German press agency learned from several members of the committee.
The trip is not a reaction to the controversial visit by US MP Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, but had been planned for some time. It is scheduled to take place between October 22nd and 30th and will go to Japan and Hong Kong in addition to Taiwan. One of them says that they don’t want to be deterred by a “threat-breathing dragon”.
4:05 p.m .: According to Japanese sources, five Chinese missiles fell during Beijing’s maneuvers off Taiwan in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “This is a serious matter affecting our country’s national security and people’s security,” Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Thursday. Japan protested to the Chinese side. It is the first time a Chinese People’s Liberation Army missile has landed in Japanese EEZ waters.
In the conflict over Taiwan, on the same day, China unleashed the largest military show of force in decades. The maneuvers in six areas around the democratic island republic are aimed at an air and sea blockade. You could also be a model for violent conquest. According to Chinese information, rockets for “precision strikes” were also fired.
1:45 p.m .: In the conflict over the democratic island republic of Taiwan, China is getting support from allied Russia in its controversial military maneuvers. “As for the maneuvers, that’s China’s sovereign right,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, according to the Interfax agency. Peskow once again criticized the visit of US top politician Nancy Pelosi to Taipei a few days ago, which Beijing sharply condemned. “It was a completely unnecessary visit and an unnecessary provocation,” said Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s spokesman.
China sees Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. The island republic itself, on the other hand, has long seen itself as independent. In response to Pelosi’s visit, China staged the biggest military display in decades: Since Thursday, maneuvers have been in full swing in six areas around Taiwan. Long-range missiles were fired in the strait separating Taiwan from the mainland and east of the island.
Thursday, August 4, 2022, 8:20 a.m.: According to Chinese state television, China has started military maneuvers around Taiwan. The state media also recently clearly stated the concrete goals of the maneuvers: a sea and air blockade of the democratic island republic. A possible military conquest of Taiwan is also being practiced with it. Read more about the topic here: Threatening gestures after Pelosi’s visit – state television: China starts military maneuvers near Taiwan
6:54 p.m .: The G7 countries have sharply criticized China’s reaction to the visit of US leader Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. “There is no justification for using a visit as a pretext for aggressive military action across the Taiwan Strait,” the foreign ministers of the alliance said on Wednesday. “We are concerned about the recent and announced threats by the People’s Republic of China (…) which risk an unnecessary escalation.”
“It is normal and customary for MPs from our countries to travel internationally,” said the joint statement by the G7 foreign ministers, referring to the controversial visit to Taiwan by Pelosi, who is chair of the US House of Representatives. “The escalating response from the People’s Republic of China risks escalating tensions and destabilizing the region.”
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called for de-escalation during a visit to Canada. “De-escalation is the top priority in these times,” she said in Montréal.
Pelosi visited Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday, pledged US solidarity to Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, and in response to the visit announced major military maneuvers in the waters around Taiwan. Dozens of Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defense zone.
Wednesday, August 3, 4:04 p.m.: On Wednesday afternoon, Chinese aircraft again entered Taiwan’s air defense zone. According to information from Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, there are 27 fighter jets. It is China’s next provocation after several planes entered the neighboring country’s airspace during yesterday’s visit by US politician Nancy Pelosi.
