The White House said on Saturday that China’s actions around the Taiwan Strait were “provocative and irresponsible” after Taiwanese officials said Chinese warships and aircraft had repeated an attack on the island.

White HousePhoto: Wikimedia Commons

“These actions represent a significant escalation of China’s efforts to change the status quo. They are provocative, irresponsible and increase the risk of miscalculation,” said a White House spokesman, quoted by Reuters.

“They also go against our long-standing goal of maintaining the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait that the world is waiting for,” the spokesman said.

Instead, former US President Donald Trump criticized Nancy Pelosi for China’s provocations, giving her the excuse Beijing had long been waiting for. “We’re going to put an end to the madness of Nancy Pelosi,” Trump declared to cheers from fans at a campaign rally.