Venezuela: Pelosi's visit threatens China's self-determination

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Aug 2022 08:33
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Venezuela reiterated its support for the One China policy and demanded that other countries respect China's sovereignty.

A man holding a Venezuelan flag during the May Day celebrations in Caracas (REUTERS)

Venezuela's foreign ministry slammed US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan on Wednesday, calling it an outright provocation and a threat to China's security.

"The trip of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is a direct provocation and seriously threatens the self-determination and territorial integrity of the giant of China," the foreign ministry tweeted.

Furthermore, the South American country reiterated its support for the One China policy and demanded that other countries respect China's sovereignty.

On its account, Nicaragua also condemned Pelosi's visit as an "unprecedented provocation of North American imperialism."

The US House Speaker's visit to Taiwan comes despite warnings from China, as well as from US President Joe Biden's administration officials, who are concerned about Beijing's reaction.

Earlier, China warned that the US will "pay the price" if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan.

"The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying stressed Tuesday at a regular press briefing.

Biden said in late July that the US military "thinks it's not a good idea right now, but I don't know what the status of it is."

The Chinese Ambassador to Washington, Qin Gang, had said that the Taiwan issue is the most sensitive and important core issue in Sino-US relations.

Chinese National Defense Ministry Spokesperson Tan Kefei warned on July 26 that the Chinese military would not sit back if Pelosi visits Taiwan.

It is worth noting that the Chinese army will begin a series of military operations around Taiwan on Tuesday following Pelosi’s provocative to the island, according to Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command Spokesperson Shi Yi.

Nikkei Asia reported on Monday that the US has deployed naval and aerial military assets ahead of Pelosi's trek into Taiwan, as data for naval and aerial tracking shows that military ships and jets are being drawn closer to Taiwan.