Cao Zhongming, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Belgium, responds to the visit to Taiwan by the speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

“In disregard of the basic norms in international relations of respecting all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and in disregard of the overall interest of China-U.S. relations, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi sneaked a visit to China’s Taiwan region. In front of the entire world, Speaker Pelosi put up a political stunt that seriously violates the one-China principle, seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This blatant political provocation proves another bankruptcy of U.S. credibility and removes the disguise for U.S. double standards on international rules.

This incident is single-handedly orchestrated and provoked by the United States. The causes, consequences and merits of the incident could not be clearer. It is the United States that made the provocation in the first place, whereas China has been compelled to take legitimate measures in self-defence. The Chinese military drills in the waters off China’s Taiwan island are necessary and legitimate both as a response to the major provocation of the U.S. side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and as a step to firmly uphold China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The host of measures China is taking and will take are necessary countermeasures that are defensive in nature and have gone through serious consideration and careful assessment. They are aimed at protecting national sovereignty and security and are consistent with international law and domestic laws. They are a warning to the provocateurs and contribute to stability in the region and peace across the Taiwan Strait.

China has done everything that is diplomatically possible and issued serious warnings to prevent this crisis that has been imposed on China. However, the United States continued down the wrong path and acted arbitrarily. All the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the U.S. side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. The day before, the G7 issued a foreign minister’s statement on Taiwan, accusing China of “increasing tensions”. This is nothing but shifting blame and confounding right and wrong. Such an irresponsible statement of position underestimates the insight of people around the world, and shields and connives at the “troublemaker”.

The historical ins and outs of the Taiwan question are crystal clear, and so are the fact and status quo that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Speaker Pelosi’s visit will not change the historical and legal reality that Taiwan belongs to China, will not stop the historical trend of China’s reunification, and will not change the fact that 181 countries in the world recognize and support the one-China principle. Anyone who follows the situation across the Taiwan Strait must know very well that to uphold peace in the region and across the Taiwan Strait, the one-China principle is the first thing to be upheld.

If one still has to ask the question of why China has carried out these important military drills, then please go and ask Speaker Pelosi.”