Bejing : In response to her controversial Taiwan visit, China has imposed unspecified sanctions on Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi “and her immediate family members”, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said on Friday.
“In disregard of China’s grave concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting China’s Taiwan region. This constitutes gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” DPA news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in a statement.
“It gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
“In response to Pelosi’s egregious provocation, China decides to adopt sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family members in accordance with relevant laws of the People’s Republic of China,” it added.
Pelosi had visited the self-governing democratic island on Tuesday, prompting Beijing to launch air and sea military drills with live fire in the waters off Taiwan.
Earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry had summoned the Japanese ambassador in retaliation over Tokyo’s criticism of China’s manoeuvres around Taiwan within the framework of the G7 group.
Pelosi became the highest-ranking American diplomat to visit Taiwan in a quarter of a century.
Beijing sees the self-governing democratic island as part of its territory and rejects any official contact with Taiwan.— IANS