The sanctions, which also target Pelosi’s immediate family, were reported by state media on Friday afternoon. “Pelosi… insists on secretly withdrawing from Taiwan, seriously interferes in China’s internal affairs, seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously violates the one-China principle, and seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait “, he said. Earlier, the US condemned China’s launch of ballistic missiles around Taiwan during major live-fire drills as an “overreaction” as several Chinese ships and planes crossed the median line again. Aggressive military demonstrations by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began on Thursday in response to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and have raised tensions across east Asia. Hundreds of PLA aircraft and navy warships are taking part in the drills in six zones surrounding Taiwan and encroaching on its territorial seas. At least 11 Dongfeng ballistic missiles were fired near or over Taiwan on Thursday, while dozens of warplanes and ships have passed over the median line, an unofficial border in the Taiwan Strait that is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. ‘We will defend ourselves’: Taiwan president warns China – video On Friday, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that several PLA ships and planes crossed the median line during the morning. The ministry said it had dispatched aircraft and ships and deployed ground-based missile systems to monitor the situation. “Adhering to the principle of preparing for war and not pursuing war, the national military will work together to vigorously defend sovereignty and national security,” it said. White House spokesman John Kirby said earlier that China had used Pelosi’s visit as a pretext to increase its provocative military action and “chose to overreact.” He said “the temperature is quite high” but tensions “can be reduced very easily, just for the Chinese to stop these very aggressive military exercises”. In an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, Kirby said, “We’re watching it very, very closely.” He also warned of the danger of the drills, saying: “One of the things that is disturbing about exercises like this or missile launches like this is … the risk of a mistake that could actually lead to some kind of conflict.” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told a meeting of top Asian diplomats on Friday that China’s response was “blatantly provocative”. Blinken, speaking at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, said China tried to bully not only Taiwan but also its neighbors, an official said. Japan’s prime minister also called for an immediate halt to the drills after his government said at least five missiles landed in its exclusive economic zone. Taiwan’s Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang on Friday said China is arbitrarily sabotaging the world’s busiest waterway with its military exercises. Su said China was a “bad neighbor flexing its muscles on our doorstep.” Taiwan condemned the drills as “senseless actions that undermine regional peace.” He confirmed that some missile trajectories passed over the main island of Taiwan, but said they took an additional atmospheric path and did not pose a threat. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell estimated that they were about 200 kilometers (125 mi) in the air while flying over land. The exercises have been harshly criticized by foreign governments and multilateral bodies, including the G7 and the EU, while members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for calm. Shortly after meeting with Pelosi on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the drills were a “serious problem affecting our national security and the security of our citizens.” As she wrapped up her tour of Asia, Pelosi said the US “will not allow” China to isolate Taiwan. “They may try to prevent Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places, but they will not isolate Taiwan by preventing us from traveling there,” he told reporters in Tokyo. She also defended her trip to Taiwan amid some criticism that it contributed to escalating tensions without corresponding tangible benefit. “It’s not for me, it’s for Taiwan,” he said. “This is to say let’s celebrate Taiwan.” But Beijing has doubled down on its rhetoric. On Friday, China’s foreign ministry summoned the envoys of Japan, Europe and the EU to submit “official representations” about their statements. According to state media, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li accused them of “distorting the facts and reversing the black and white,” with their “unwitting interference in China’s internal affairs.” The statement reiterated China’s claims that the “one China” principle – an internal Chinese policy outlining its geopolitical claim over Taiwan – was supported by foreign governments. In fact, various governments have their own China policies that provide some recognition of Beijing’s stance, but do not always recognize Taiwan’s claim. The US, for example, says Taiwan’s status is unresolved. PLA exercises are scheduled to continue through the weekend. The six designated zones surround the island of Taiwan and in some places overlap with Taiwan’s territorial waters which extend 12 miles from its coastline. Non-PLA aircraft and naval vessels have been warned to stay away from the areas, some of which are close to key ports and flight paths. China carried out “precision missile strikes” on Thursday in waters off the coast of Taiwan Photo: AP Korean Air and Singapore Airlines said they canceled flights to and from Taipei on Friday because of the drills, with the Korean carrier also canceling Saturday flights and delaying Sunday flights. Taiwanese authorities estimate that around 900 flights will be affected by the need to reroute and have said that blocking access to the ports is effectively tantamount to a blockade. Military analysts told Beijing’s state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday that the aim was to practice a possible blockade of the island and limit its pro-independence forces. “The purpose is to show that the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] it is able to control all the exits of Taiwan Island, which will be a big deterrent to separatist ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” said Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at China’s naval research institute. Analysts said the Chinese leadership is keen to project power ahead of a crucial meeting of the ruling party this autumn, which is expected to hand President Xi Jinping an unprecedented third term, but that China is not aiming to escalate the situation further. from her control – at least for now. Titus Chen, an associate professor of political science at National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan, said: “The last thing Xi wants is an accidental war.” With the French Agency
