Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu welcomes U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan August 2, 2022. (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS)
WASHINGTON聽 鈥撀� U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Friday that China 鈥渙verreacted鈥� to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 visit to Taiwan and used it as a pretext to try to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
The American response would be patient and effective, and the U.S. presence and posture in the region would account for China鈥檚 more destabilizing behavior, Campbell told reporters in a call.
鈥淐hina has overreacted and its actions continue to be provocative, destabilizing and unprecedented,鈥� Campbell said, calling it part of an 鈥渋ntensified pressure campaign鈥� against Taiwan.
鈥淚t has not ended and we expect it to continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months,鈥� Campbell said, adding that several Chinese warships remain around Taiwan, a self-governed island.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Thursday that China鈥檚 threat of force is undiminished, even though Beijing鈥檚 largest- ever military drills around the island following Pelosi鈥檚 visit last week seemed to be scaling down.
Campbell reiterated that the United States would conduct standard air and maritime transits through the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks, and that it would announce an 鈥渁mbitious road map鈥� for trade negotiations with Taiwan in the coming days.
鈥淎nd we will ensure that our presence, posture and exercise account for China鈥檚 more provocative and destabilizing behavior, with a view towards guiding the situation in the western Pacific towards greater stability,鈥� he said.