Japan this morning condemned China’s military drills around Taiwan as a protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Tokyo said that five Chinese missiles, which appear to have flown over Taiwan’s main island, had fallen in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This was a major security concern and China should stop all military drills immediately, Japan said. The said EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline, beyond the limits of its territorial waters.
China has strongly condemned Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, citing its one-China policy. While Taiwan is a self-ruled, independent and democratic country, China sees it as a break-away province. China and Taiwan have had a stressed relationship, with the former repeatedly claiming Taiwan to be part of its country. China has also attempted several military sieges on Taiwan.
When Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was announced, China warned the US that such actions will have consequences. On the eve of her visit, more than 20 Chinese military planes had entered Taiwan’s air defence zone. Soon after Pelosi landed in Taipei, China announced that the People’s Liberation Army will conduct a series of live-fire military drills in the air and at sea around Taiwan later this week.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Pelosi this morning and later addressed a press conference. He talked about China’s aggressive actions and how they are affecting several countries in the region. “China’s actions this time around have a serious impact on the peace and stability of our region and the international community,” he said. He also said that Japan has called for the immediate cancellation of China’s military drills.
Furthermore, Kishida told the media that he discussed geopolitical issues including matters related to North Korea, China and Russia with Pelosi. The two leaders also talked about efforts to build a nuclear-free world.
