International press review
In the spotlight: tensions between China and the United States around Taiwan
Audio 05:03
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi at a press conference in Washington on July 14, 2022. The American is expected to visit Taiwan as China threatens the United States of possible retaliation military.
© REUTERS / ELIZABETH FRANTZ
By: Anne Corpet Follow
5 mins
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The American president and the Chinese president are due to speak on Thursday by telephone.
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping have not spoken since the beginning of March.
Nancy Pelosi's announced visit to Taiwan sparks ire in Beijing
According to the
New York Times
, the American president will notably try to ease tensions over Taiwan.
The announced visit to the island of Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the majority in the House, has indeed aroused very angry reactions from Beijing in recent days.
“
China called the trip a provocation, raised strong objections, and hinted at possible retaliation.
In particular, it could send warplanes to escort Nancy Pelosi's plane
, ”recalls the newspaper, which notes that during previous visits by American officials to Taiwan, Beijing had not reacted so strongly.
“
What pushes Xi Jinping to lose his temper this time,
believes the daily,
it is the desire to divert attention from its own economic and pandemic problems or, at least, the need to put on a show of force internationally.
»
Faced with the anger of Beijing, the dilemma of the Americans
In its editorial, the
Washington Post
is concerned
about this brutal rise in tension between China and the United States around Taiwan.
First of all, he deplores the comment made by Joe Biden on July 20 about the announced displacement of Nancy Pelosi: "
The military thinks it's not a good idea at the moment
," said the American president.
“
This formulation created two problematic appearances
: it gave the impression that the military determines policy, and it made it impossible for China to remain silent on this trip
”, analyzes
Washington Post
,
which notes: “
Now the United States faces a dilemma
: canceling the trip would amount to granting Beijing an implicit veto over the United States' relations with the island.
This cannot be allowed.
But China has taken an aggressive military stance, and the Americans cannot afford a showdown with Beijing
.”
And the columnist concludes: “
There is a time for everything.
Realism recommends recognizing that in the short term, a visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is particularly inopportune
.
China threatening
In China, the press speaks directly of the risks involved in the plan to travel by the leader of the Democratic majority in the House.
“
China has already issued six warnings (about this trip).
If the Americans underestimate them, it would be extremely perilous
”, can we read in the columns of the
Global Times
.
The newspaper recalls that in the United States, the Republicans are pushing the Democrat to make this trip and adds: "
The Democrats are now trapped
: visiting the island could provoke a military reaction from China, a serious geopolitical crisis, and Nancy Pelosi would also be in danger.
But canceling the trip will benefit Republicans because they can say the Democrats are too weak and dare not challenge China
.”
And the Chinese newspaper concludes: “
The partisan fight in the United States has made politicians in Washington blind to the real risks that could cause a geopolitical disaster
”.
Troop movements around Taiwan
It is in this tense context that the
South China Morning Post
evokes the ongoing troop movements in the region.
"
China and the United States are strengthening their military posture around the Taiwan Strait
", headlines the newspaper.
He cites the departure of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan last Monday from Singapore.
"
The American army has not indicated its final destination, but its current trajectory is leading it towards Taiwan
", specifies the daily which adds: "
Recent satellite images show that the Chinese people's army is also reinforcing its deployment, particularly in a airbase located just across from Taiwan
.
"
French satellites at the service of Putin
"
Back to Europe with this article in the German press which is likely to cause a stir in France.
It is titled: “
French satellites are at the service of Vladimir Putin
”.
It is published by the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, which notes: "
Eutelsat continues to broadcast supposedly neutral Russian propaganda
", before questioning: "
Why does France cling so stubbornly to hypocrisy
?"
The daily talks about the proposed merger between the French company Eutelsat and the British company OneWeb, recalls that the objective of this merger is ambitious – it is to form a European giant capable of providing fast internet from space to each place on the planet – but deplores: “
The French company, whose main shareholder is the state, continues to supply 15 million Russian households with Putin's propaganda channels.
And unlike the British OneWeb, Eutelsat still collaborates with the Russian space organization Roscosmos
”.
A position considered very surprising by the German daily.
"
The fact that Russia has banned BBC World, Deutsche Welle, France 24, media that are themselves customers of Eutelsat, does not bother the director of the French company
", insists the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, which also relays the criticisms already made. by the English press on this subject and concludes: “
With incomprehensible stubbornness, France is sabotaging its own great European project.
Growing English opposition suggests so
”.
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