Canada is calling on China to ease tensions that have risen over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Pelosi, who landed in Taipei on Tuesday night and left on Wednesday, drew a strong response from Beijing as she announced multiple military exercises on the island shortly after her arrival.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said a lawmaker’s visit should not be a pretext for escalating tensions.
Read more: US will stand by Taiwan, Pelosi says during visit as China protests
“We are concerned about rising tensions in the region,” Joly said during a news conference with his German counterpart in Montreal on Wednesday.
He said China’s threatening actions increase the risk of destabilizing the region and called on Beijing to cool down.
Story continues below ad
China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any engagement of Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.
1:20 China to conduct ‘joint military operations’ when Pelosi lands in Taiwan, state media says China to conduct ‘joint military operations’ when Pelosi lands in Taiwan, state media says
Pelosi was the first Speaker of the House to visit Taiwan in 25 years, since Newt Gingrich in 1997. However, other members of Congress, including Democrats Mark Takano of California, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Colin Allred of Texas and Sara Jacobs of California, and Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina, have visited Taiwan in the past year.
Trending stories
-
Taiwan warns Chinese military exercises threaten ports and urban areas as Pelosi visits
-
Disney World guests are stuck for more than an hour on the “It’s a Small World” ride.
Plans for his visit heightened tensions between the United States and China last week.
Shortly after Pelosi landed on Tuesday night, China announced live-fire drills that reportedly began that night, as well as four days of drills starting Thursday.
Read more: Taiwan warns Chinese military drills threaten ports, urban areas as Pelosi visits
Story continues below ad
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force also flew a contingent of 21 warplanes, including fighter jets, to Taiwan on Tuesday night. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng also summoned the US ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, to relay the country’s protests that same night.
On Wednesday, China also banned some imports from Taiwan, including citrus fruits and fish.
“We are very concerned about the threatening action China is taking and its economic coercion,” Joly told reporters.
He said he had discussed the issue with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and also spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a couple of days ago.
3:27 Pelosi’s controversial Taiwan trip divides Taipei residents, world reactions Pelosi’s controversial Taiwan trip divides Taipei residents, world reactions
Pelosi addressed Beijing’s threats Wednesday morning, saying she hoped it would be clear that while China has barred Taiwan from attending certain international meetings, “they understand that they are not going to stop people from coming to Taiwan as a show of friendship and support”.
Story continues below ad
He left Wednesday evening for South Korea, the next stop on an Asia tour that also included Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.
— with files from The Associated Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.