Tuesday saw China impose visa restrictions and other sanctions on Taiwanese political figures in retaliation for repeated congressional visits, which increased pressure on the independent island and the United States.
Following what it deemed to be collaboration and provocation between the United States and Taiwan, China conducted additional military manoeuvres in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan the day before the sanctions were announced. The duration and extent of the Chinese exercises are unknown.
They were made public on the same day as a team from the US Congress met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and shortly after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking US government official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, paid a similiar visit. Because it views Taiwan as its own territory and has recently threatened to annex the island, the Chinese government is opposed to Taiwan having any official communications with other governments.
Following the visit of Pelosis, China conducted intimidating military exercises for about two weeks, including missile launches over the island and incursions by navy ships and jets over the Taiwan Strait, which has long acted as a demilitarised zone between the two sides.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the US State Department, told reporters in Washington that China’s provocative and completely unnecessary response to the congressional delegation that visited Taiwan earlier this month was excessive.
The most recent Chinese sanctions target activist Lin Fei-fan, politicians Ker Chien-ming, Koo Li-hsiung, Tsai Chi-chang, Chen Jiau-hua, and Bi-khim Hsiao, who serves as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States.
They will be prohibited from visiting Hong Kong, Macau, or the rest of China’s mainland, as well as from interacting with individuals or organisations there on a personal or financial level, according to the Taiwan Work Office of the ruling Communist Party.
The sanctions, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, were intended to firmly punish people seen to be ardent forces supporting Taiwan’s independence.
According to Xinhua, foreign minister Joseph Wu, legislative leader You Si-kun, and premier Su Tseng-chang are already sanctioned by China and will now be subject to new restrictions.
Taiwan accuses China of being haughty in latest threats.
Taiwan is not subject to China’s legal authority, hence it is unclear how the sanctions will effect Taiwan. China has forbade all contact with Taiwan’s administration, which was soundly re-elected in 2020, ever since Tsais 2016 election.
Washington claims it opposes independence, lacks formal diplomatic links to the island, and expects the two sides to resolve their dispute amicably, but it is nonetheless required by law to ensure the island’s capacity to repel any invasion.
Despite putting its military on alert, Taiwan has not taken any serious action in reaction to China’s actions.
This is reflected in the population’s general serenity and ambivalence, which has endured more than 70 years of the threat of Chinese attack.
Later this week, Taiwan plans to conduct air force and ground-to-air missile drills.
Prominent Taiwanese people are banned by China as retaliation against the United States and the territory.
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