China imposes sanctions on Nancy Pelosi after her visit to Taiwan
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Beijing has imposed unspecified sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of her family.
"In ignoring China's serious concerns and resolute opposition... Pelosi has insisted on visiting the Taiwan region of China. This constitutes a serious interference in China's internal affairs," the ministry statement said.
"This seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously violates the one-China principle, and seriously threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the statement added.
"In response to Pelosi's blatant provocation, China decides to impose sanctions on Pelosi and her close family members, in line with relevant laws of the People's Republic of China," the statement continued.
China's foreign ministry said Beijing had also suspended dialogue with Washington on a number of key issues, including defense policy coordination, cooperation on repatriation of illegal immigrants and legal assistance in criminal matters.
The United Nations expressed its concerns, and according to a spokesman for the international organization, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes that "there is no way to solve the most important problems around the world without effective dialogue and cooperation between the two countries."
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused China of seeking to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by conducting missile tests and military exercises.
"The truth is that (Pelosi's) visit was peaceful. There is no justification for this extreme and disproportionate military response," Blinken told a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Cambodian capital.
On Tuesday, China launched live-fire military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan in reaction to Pelosi's visit to self-ruled Taiwan earlier this week.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called China's military exercises "irresponsible not only to Taiwan, but also to the international community."
She added that the Taiwan government is working to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the island's ports and airports, and at the same time is working to stabilize financial markets.
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