President Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about the scale of China’s military exercises near Taiwan but doesn’t believe Beijing intends to move beyond its threats.
China ramped up military drills in the seas and airspace around the island to protest last week’s visit to Taipei by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), extending what was supposed to be a four-day military exercise.
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“I’m not worried, but I’m concerned that they’re moving as much as they are. But I don’t think they’re going to do anything more,” Biden said Monday of Beijing’s actions in the wake of the speaker’s trip.
Asked if Pelosi’s visit was a mistake, Biden responded, “That was her decision.”
The president said military advisers had warned against the trip over concerns that it could prompt China to react aggressively toward Taiwan. Threats from Beijing increased in the days leading up to Pelosi’s visit and have continued, with Beijing on Friday targeting some U.S.-China military and diplomatic cooperation initiatives, showcasing the frayed ties between the two countries.
“The Chinese side has repeatedly lodged stern representations and strong protests over the US House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan,” a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said of the breach in cooperation, including “phone calls between the Chinese and US military leaders at the theater command level, cancellation of working meetings between the defense departments of the two countries, and cancellation of the China-US Maritime Military Safety Consultation Mechanism meetings.”
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The spokesman accused Washington of “deliberately creating tensions” across the Taiwan Strait by “conniving and supporting” Nancy Pelosi’s “rogue visit.”
