China defends ditching US talks, says Washington must bear ‘serious consequences’

BEIJING: China’s defence ministry on Monday (Aug 8) defended its shelving associated with military talks with the United States in protest towards House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last week, warning that Washington must tolerate “serious consequences”.

Pelosi’s visit last week infuriated China and taiwan, which regards the self-ruled island as the own and replied with test roll-outs of ballistic missiles over Taipei for the first time, as well as ditching a few lines of dialogue with Washington.

“The current anxious situation in the Taiwan Strait is completely provoked and developed by the US side on its own initiative, and the US side must tolerate full responsibility plus serious consequences with this, ” defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in an on the web post.

“The bottom line cannot be damaged, and communication needs sincerity, ” Wu said.

4 days of unprecedented drills were scheduled to finish on Sunday. Chinese authorities have not officially confirmed they have finished, amid fears amongst some security experts that the situation within the Taiwan Strait, especially near the unofficial typical line buffer, remains tense.

Regarding 10 warships each from China and Taiwan maneuvered at near quarters around the line on Sunday, according to a person familiar with the situation who may be involved with security preparing.

The island’s defence ministry stated Chinese military boats, aircraft, and drones had simulated attacks on the island as well as its navy. It stated it had delivered aircraft and ships to react “appropriately”.

China known as off formal discussions involving theatre-level instructions, defence policy coordination and military maritime consultations on Fri as Pelosi left the region.

Pentagon, State Department plus White House officials condemned the move, describing it as an irresponsible overreaction.

China’s cutting of some of its couple of communication links using the US military boosts the risk of an accidental escalation over Taiwan at a critical instant, according to security experts and diplomats.

One US official noted that Chinese officials had not taken care of immediately calls from older Pentagon officials amid the tensions a week ago, but that they did not see this like a formal severing associated with ties with older figures, such as ALL OF US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Requested directly about these reports, defence ministry spokesman Wu mentioned, “China’s relevant countermeasures are a necessary warning to the provocations of the United States and Taiwan, and a legitimate defense associated with national sovereignty plus security”.