China on Friday canceled all cooperation with the United States on global warming and other areas in retaliation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
The mobilization of planes and warships, the largest military exercise in China’s history near Taiwan, continued on Friday, also in reaction to Pelosi’s trip. Taipei has criticized its “evil neighbor” whose maneuvers have literally surrounded the island for three days.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Beijing “will suspend negotiations with the United States on climate change.” He also accused Pelosi of having “seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs and undermined its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He announced sanctions against the official and her close family, but did not give more details.
The world’s two biggest polluters had pledged last year to work together to accelerate climate action, vowing to meet regularly to “tackle the climate crisis.”
Beijing also said it was suspending cooperation with Washington on issues such as the repatriation of illegal immigrants, justice, transnational crime and the fight against drugs.
The White House, for its part, summoned the Chinese ambassador to Washington. “We have condemned China’s military operations, which are irresponsible and contrary to our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” said spokesman John Kirby.
Chinese diplomat Wang Yi responded by accusing the United States of having “a habit of creating a problem and then using this problem to achieve its ends. This approach will not work with China,” he warned.
The Chinese maneuvers constitute “a significant escalation”, estimated the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, after holding talks with foreign ministers from East Asia in Cambodia. For Blinken, Pelosi’s visit does not “justify” the military exercises launched by Beijing.
Beijing fired several ballistic missiles dongfeng into the waters around Taiwan. Japan filed a formal diplomatic complaint against China. Five of its missiles allegedly fell in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
