International press review
Headlines: Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan sparks ire in Beijing
Audio 05:38
Nancy Pelosi as she leaves Taiwan on August 3, 2022. VIA REUTERS - TAIWAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAI
By: Anne Corpet Follow
5 mins
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In China, the newspapers warn the United States after the visit of the president of the house of representatives to Taiwan.
"
The United States will be solely responsible for the consequences of Nancy Pelosi's risky trip
," warns the
China Daily
in its editorial.
"
China will resolutely defend its sovereignty, its security and its territorial integrity
", continues the newspaper which asserts: "
The whole world must know that the United States violates the fundamental norms of international relations in order to open a second front in Asia and to besiege China
.
»
Even your bellicose in the
Global Times
which evokes the " stupid, reckless, dangerous and provocative
" attitude
of the President of the House of Representatives and warns: "
China's retaliatory measures will not be one-off, but a combination of resolute, progressive, long-term actions term
.
[…]
Pelosi cannot change the fact that Taiwan belongs to China
”, insists
the daily
again, quoting the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs: “
This episode proves once again that certain American politicians are troublemakers.
Those who offend China will inevitably be punished
.
»
Nancy Pelosi constant in her critical positions of China
In the United States, the press recalls that this trip by the President of the Chamber to Taiwan is in line with her political action.
"
This trip is the culmination of a 35-year career spent criticizing China
," writes the
Washington Post
, which publishes a photo of Nancy Pelosi in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1991. Two years after the massacre of student protesters against the regime, she went there with two other American elected officials and unfurled a banner “
To those who died for democracy in China
”.
This affront had led to a rapid response from the police and a diplomatic clash, recalls the
New York Times
, "
but nothing comparable to the reactions aroused by his trip to Taiwan
".
The American daily lists the firm positions taken by the president of the chamber with regard to China throughout her political life on Tibet, Hong Kong, the Uyghur minority or the imprisonment of dissidents.
"
This visit to Taiwan is therefore consistent with her political career
", considers the newspaper which adds: "
At 82, Nancy Pelosi also thinks of her heritage, that of a woman who has never shown complacency towards China.
»
In Japan, Beijing's reaction raises concerns
The
Japan Times
notes that Japanese islands are "
sandwiched
" by military exercises launched by China.
“
The maneuvers planned by Beijing and their potential ramifications could reinforce the opinion of Japanese lawmakers that it is urgent for the country to strengthen its defenses
”, estimates the daily.
The assassination of al-Zawahiri reinforces the hard line of the Taliban
The press also returns to the consequences of the assassination of al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, killed by an American drone strike in Kabul.
“
This strike could reinforce the hard line of the Taliban and push the Afghan regime to embrace the extremes
”, according to the
Washington Post
which relays the opinion of an expert from the Institute of Peace: “
The Taliban are in great political difficulty and will come under heavy pressure to fight back
.
»
In London,
The Guardian
evokes the reaction of the families of the victims of the attacks of September 11 after the death of one of the designers of the terrorist attack.
They welcomed the news with satisfaction but are not satisfied with it, explains the newspaper which publishes the press release of these bereaved families.
“
President Biden must also hold the Saudi sponsors responsible for the murder of our loved ones
,” they write before adding bitterly, in reference to the meeting between Joe Biden and the Saudi Crown Prince, that “
those who financed the Attacks are not targeted by drones, they are met with great fanfare and received at golf clubs.
»
Gerhard Schröder, former German Chancellor close to Vladimir Putin
In Germany, the entire press is commenting on an interview with former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
"
Why should I apologize?"
asks the ex-chancellor on the front page of
Stern
magazine .
Gerhard Schröder traveled to Moscow last week where he met Vladimir Putin, whom he had already seen last March.
And this is the first time that he has commented on these trips.
"
The good news is that the Kremlin wants a negotiated solution
," he said.
The former chancellor claims his closeness to the Russian president, and believes he can make himself useful.
He says he favors the use of the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline, believes that Crimea is irrevocably lost to Ukraine, describes the war as a "
mistake of the Russian government
" but at the same time pleads the cause of Moscow.
"
There are real fears of encirclement in Russia that are fueled by history
," he said, "
and unfortunately they are justified
."
Acerbic comment in the
Frankfuter Allgemeine Zeitung
:
“
Schröder is becoming a burden for Germany.
What motives guide him?
Probably a question of influence, recognition, attention and of course, money.
Die Welt
recalls
that Gerhard Schröder is currently the subject of an expulsion procedure from the German Social Democratic Party, because of his never denied links with Vladimir Putin.
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