White House says China is using Pelosi’s Taiwan visit as a ‘pretext’ for escalating tensions

White House says China is using Pelosi’s Taiwan visit as a ‘pretext’ for escalating tensions

2022-08-05

A White House senior official has accused China of overreacting to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said China used the visit as a, quote "pretext" to launch military exercises around Taiwan. Kirby added that the American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group would stay in the region to monitor the situation, and that the U.S. is prepared to respond to China’s provocations.

John Kirby
White House Security official
We condemn these actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our longstanding goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region.

The White House security official said China was using House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit as a “pretext” for conducting military drills surrounding Taiwan, which pose a risk to neighboring sea areas and air space

John Kirby
White House Security official
China has chosen to overreact and use the speaker’s visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait.

John Kirby said China would continue with its provocations toward Taiwan but that the U.S. was prepared.

John Kirby
White House official
Secretary Austin today has directed that the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the ships in her strike group will remain on station in the area to monitor the situation.

Not only will the USS Reagan remain in the waters near Taiwan to watch events, the U.S. will also continue to operate in the waters and airspace of the Western Pacific in accordance with international law. Officials say the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan, defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region and prevent Beijing from pursuing its goals.

John Kirby
White House official
Beijing’s provocative actions are a significant escalation in its longstanding attempt to change the status quo.

Antony Blinken
US secretary of state
We oppose any unilateral efforts to change the status quo, especially by force. The U.S. remains committed to our “One China” policy guided by our commitments to the Taiwan Relations Act, Three Communiques, and Six Assurances.

The U.S. stresses that the world will not accept Beijing’s wish to establish a new status quo, saying that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are in everyone’s interest. Reports say the Biden administration has postponed a routine test launch of an Air Force Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to avoid escalating tensions with Beijing

John Kirby
White House official
The United States will be resolute but also steady and responsible. We do not believe this is in our interest, Taiwan’s interest, the region’s interest to allow tensions to escalate further.

Meanwhile, experts believe that it’s important not to overreact to China’s actions.

Gen. David Petraeus
Former CIA director
Policy when it comes to China has to do with the big idea that you should be firm, very firm, but not needlessly provocative.

U.S. officials did not explicitly say if they would offer assistance on the front of cyberattacks Taiwan. They stressed however that the U.S. had been committed to helping Taiwan with its self-defense for decades. Meanwhile, the head of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee Bob Menendez from the Democratic Party, and Jim Risch, from the Republican Party, released a statement lashing out at China for attempting to change the status quo. They added that China was bullying and coercing Taiwan. The state ends saying: “Bejiing should not be under any false illusion that these military drills will lessen resolve in the U.S. or elsewhere, or erode our commitment to stand with the people of Taiwan and their right to determine their own future. Just the opposite.”