Taiwan’s defense ministry has warned it will send forces in response to “enemy threats” as China stepped up its military rhetoric on the day of a highly controversial visit to Taipei by US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In a statement on Tuesday, the defense ministry said it had full knowledge of military activity near Taiwan and the “determination, capability and confidence” to ensure Taiwan’s national security. He added that he had made several unspecified plans for an emergency.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s prime minister reiterated that he “gives a warm welcome” to foreign guests, ahead of Pelosi’s possible visit. Taiwan would “make the most appropriate arrangements” for these guests and respect their plans, Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Tuesday when asked about a visit.
The remarks came after Reuters reported that several Chinese warships and aircraft had traveled near the median line, an unofficial border between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait. Citing unnamed sources, the report said the ships had been in the area since Monday, while the last flights took place on Tuesday morning, prompting Taiwan’s air force to scram its own aircraft in response.
Taiwan’s defense ministry has reportedly adjusted and strengthened the army’s military preparedness in response to China’s threat. According to public broadcaster CNA, it had not formally changed the level of readiness, which refers to only two stages: the current regular staging and wartime.
China has also announced several days of live-fire drills in the region, although they could be linked to events marking the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday.
The PLA also released a propaganda video that did not mention Taiwan, but instead showed live-fire drills and said it would “bury incoming enemies.”
On Tuesday, several Chinese officials issued further warnings. Ambassador to the US Qin Gang shared the PLA video, saying the military “will not stand idly by when it comes to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The former ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, largely echoed other government statements. “A visit by her to Taiwan would constitute a major interference in China’s internal affairs, would seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, would unquestionably trample on the one-China principle,” he said.
Overnight, Chinese authorities announced a sudden ban on imports from more than 100 Taiwanese food companies, local media reported, in what was interpreted as an act of retaliation for the planned visit, a trade tool that China has used often in bilateral disputes.
Multiple media outlets have said Pelosi will land in Taipei on Tuesday night and meet with Taiwan’s president on Wednesday as an unofficial stop on her Asia tour. Pelosi, a longtime China hawk, will be the most senior member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in decades, and Beijing has repeatedly threatened undefined “countermeasures” in response.
Pelosi has refused to confirm her trip to Taiwan, a rescheduled visit after plans in April were postponed when she contracted Covid-19, but the lack of denials and multiple leaks to the media have sparked an angry response of China and fears that the situation could escalate.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy and has never been ruled by the Communist Party of China (CCP), but Beijing claims it as a province it seeks to “reunify”, by force if necessary. The CCP strongly opposes foreign displays of support for what it says is a “separatist” government in Taiwan, particularly from the US.
Taiwan, whose government has declined to comment on the visit, often hosts foreign delegations as it seeks to boost its international relations. Few countries recognize Taiwan as a country, including the US, but Washington has legislated requirements to support Taiwan in self-defense and has been strengthening unofficial ties.
Sources in Taiwan have told the Guardian that there is a general concern that if Pelosi does not visit, it would suggest that the United States can be intimidated by verbal threats and would damage Taiwan’s confidence in its support.
On Tuesday, Kolas Yotaka, a former Taiwanese presidential spokeswoman and now a county government candidate, said she supported the visit.
“No one has the right to say whether Speaker Pelosi ‘should’ come to Taiwan or not,” he said. “Only she can decide, and she shouldn’t feel threatened. I’m looking forward to her visit. It makes us feel less isolated and we believe that there are still people who hold to their beliefs and ideals.”
Chinese reaction to reports of Pelosi’s visits has intensified, though without details. In a lengthy phone call last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned US President Joe Biden against “playing with fire” in Taiwan, while officials have repeatedly said the PLA is not ” I would stand idly by” during the visit. Analysts in Taiwan and overseas have expressed concern that Beijing’s rhetoric has reached a level that would force them to take measures to avoid losing face.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Pelosi’s decision to visit was entirely hers, as leader of the co-equal governing branch of Congress. He pointed to visits by previous speakers and other members of Congress to Taiwan and called for calm from China.
“We are looking for them, in the event that she decides to visit them, to act responsibly and not engage in any escalation in the future.”
Additional reports from Chi Hui Lin and agencies