US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pledged US support for Taiwan in the face of China threats. At a joint press conference with President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei, the US leader said the US will "always stand by Taiwan's side." The visit of the congress delegation to Taiwan shows "that we will not give up our obligations towards Taiwan".
Referring to Beijing's communist leadership's threats against Taiwan, Pelosi said, "More than ever, American solidarity is crucial." That is the message of the visit of their congress delegation.
US support for Taiwan is bipartisan. "Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy," Pelosi said, praising Taiwan as "one of the freest societies in the world."
Taiwan's President: "Taiwan will not back down"
Taiwan's president said Russia's invasion of Ukraine drew international attention to the conflict with China over Taiwan. The situation in the Taiwan Strait has implications for security in the Asia-Pacific region. "Taiwan will not back down," Tsai said, noting the threat from China. "We will do whatever is necessary to strengthen our self-defense capabilities."
Meanwhile, China's military threats have raised concern in Japan. The area near Taiwan, where China is planning maneuvers from Thursday, overlaps with Japan's exclusive economic zone, Japan's government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said, according to the Kyodo news agency. Concerns have been communicated to Beijing. Japan is a key US ally.
Beijing sees Taiwan only as part of the People's Republic, strictly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei and had vehemently warned the USA against Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. China's neighbor Japan, like its protecting power the United States, has long been concerned about Beijing's increasing bid for power in the region.
