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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on August 2, 2022, during a tour of Asia despite repeated warnings from Beijing and the risk of military conflict between the US and China. Heightened tensions caused by the trip led to the deployment of a PLA destroyer and guided missile frigate in waters east of Taiwan. The US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and amphibious ship USS Tripoli were also reported to be operating near the island.
The leaders of China and the US may not have agreed on everything, but clearly both were certain about one thing: lines of communication must be kept open at all times.
Recent moves raise hopes of greater cooperation and dialogue, and less confrontation and tit-for-tat measures that do nothing to resolve disputes.
Beijing and Washington must take full advantage of their return to high-level talks to snuff out dangerous speculation about an impending war in the Taiwan Strait. As long as Taiwan does not declare independence, war is highly unlikely.
As if Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year was not provocation enough, the US is once again playing with fire in its relations with mainland China.
- Border dispute between Asian giants coupled with economic deals involving Taipei have fuelled quiet shift in New Delhi’s posture
- As labour pact bringing Indian workers to Taiwan looms, analysts say time is ripe for greater political engagement
Beijing has not had a defence minister since Li Shangfu was removed from the post in October for unknown reasons.
The Chinese leader indicated Beijing is not preparing for an invasion of the island, a US official said after the meeting in California.
Washington and Beijing say the Chinese and American presidents will sit down at Apec forum for ‘in-depth’ discussion of ‘major issues’.
‘Huge miscalculation’ if Beijing proceeded with trying to cut off the self-ruled island, senior US defence officials testify at House hearing.
New tomography machines would be used in the event of radioactive disasters as the island’s defence ministry warns PLA could attack power plants.
Beijing ‘will never win the award for good-neighbour policy’, says Rahm Emanuel, citing its disputes with New Delhi and Manila, among others in region.
Taipei’s defence ministry announces 55 per cent budget increase in fuel cost to meet challenges from Beijing’s military operations around island.
Michael Studeman, former commander of Pentagon’s office of naval intelligence, says Beijing may ‘believe that if you have a hotline, that we’re more prone to risky behaviour’.
Asean meeting between Antony Blinken and Wang Yi latest in Biden administration effort to prevent looming ‘restrictions being deeply misunderstood’.
While aware that the trip ‘is unlikely to produce anything remarkable in terms of lasting mitigation’, Chinese analysts hope it will prevent a further worsening of ties.
The incident over the weekend, just days after a close call between the two countries’ aircraft, ‘can lead to miscalculations’, says National Security Council spokesman.
Announcement comes amid recent high-level overtures to boost dialogue between the countries after months of worsening ties.
Global Times responds to reports that Chinese warship suddenly cut in front of American destroyer in controversial waters, blasting Canada-US joint mission in Taiwan Strait as ‘provocative’.
US president says group agrees on diversifying supply chains and de-risking without decoupling.
Truss and her ilk are ‘playing the Taiwan card’ to provoke, Chinese embassy in London says, warning against violations of ‘one-China principle’.
Truss will make a speech on threats to the island at the Prospect Foundation, a think tank sanctioned by Beijing.
‘We’ve never been shy of talking and we hope the Chinese will meet us halfway,’ Nicholas Burns says as relationship founders over trade, Taiwan, human rights and other issues.
‘It was dangerous … We had great protection, but nonetheless, [it was] a war – theatre of war’, the former US House speaker recalls of her visit as it approaches its one-year anniversary.
Beijing says Washington’s inconsistent stance on the one-China policy is a betrayal of the foundation of diplomatic ties.
Hong Kong ‘enjoys the status’ of ‘one country, two systems’, but has to ‘work very hard’ to convince the US that it remains autonomous, says retired Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani.
The People’s Liberation Army says it will hold three days of exercises, with coastal authorities in the southeast signalling additional drills.
