After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, Chinese authorities imposed sanctions against her. The penalties also apply to the American politician’s family members, said on Friday, August 5, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As pointed out in Beijing, with her visit to Taiwan, Pelosi “intervened in China’s internal affairs” and violated the country’s “territorial integrity”. What kind of sanctions in question, not reported.

In turn, the White House summoned Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang amid the measures of the Chinese military, holding military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese ambassador was summoned to expose Beijing’s “provocative actions” in Taiwan and to tell him that the US does not want a crisis in the region, John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications for the White House’s National Security Council, told The Washington. post.

China suspends cooperation with the United States in several areas

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing also said China was suspending dialogue with the United States on climate change and other areas of cooperation – in the field of combating drugs, transnational crimes, legal assistance in criminal cases and the repatriation of illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, it is reported that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Japanese ambassador in connection with Tokyo’s criticism of Chinese military exercises within the G7 group. The diplomat received an official protest. A day earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned ambassadors from other G7 countries, as well as an EU representative.

Conflict over Taiwan

Tensions between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese officials have escalated in recent days over Nancy Pelosi’s island visit – she flew to Taiwan on the evening of Aug 2 as part of a tour of Asian countries and left on Aug 3. Pelosi, who assured Taiwan of broad support from Washington during the visit, became the first US House of Representatives speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years.

Chinese officials, who consider Taiwan their territory, were harshly critical even before their arrival on the island. On August 4, after Pelosi’s departure, the People’s Liberation Army of China began the previously announced air and sea military exercises in the Taiwan area. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry called the Chinese maneuvers extremely provocative and announced the deployment of land-based missile systems. Chinese state media and the Japanese Defense Ministry reported that Chinese missiles flew over Taiwan during the exercise.