ISTANBUL

China on Friday urged US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to abandon any plans to visit self-ruled Taiwan rather than postpone it after contracting COVID-19. 

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian wished Pelosi a speedy recovery and said: “China has recently made its position clear on Speaker Pelosi’s planned visit to Taiwan."

“What she should do is not postpone the visit, but cancel it immediately,” Zhao stressed.

China sees Taiwan as its “breakaway province,” while Taipei has been insisting on its independence since 1949.

Beijing’s statement came after news surfaced that Pelosi planned to visit Taiwan on Sunday following her weekend trip to Japan.

However, Pelosi’s office said on Thursday that she had tested positive for the virus, and the US Congressional delegation trip to Asia has been “postponed to a later date.”

Beijing has warned Washington of a “forceful” response if Pelosi visits Taipei.

China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US emphasizes “respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country on the Ukraine issue, but blatantly treads on the ‘One China’ red line on the Taiwan issue.”

“This is a blatant double standard,” Wang told Emmanuel Bonne, the French president’s diplomatic counselor, in a phone call on Thursday night.

Such a step, he warned, would be a “malicious provocation to China’s sovereignty and gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

The last time a sitting US Congress speaker visited Taipei was in 1997, when Republican Newt Gingrich met with then-Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui.

In 1979, the US formally recognized China and transferred diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing, declaring Taiwan to be a part of mainland China.

The Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979, has governed US-Taiwan relations. The Three Communiques, which are bilateral agreements with China, have also had an impact on relations.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu slammed Beijing’s objection to Pelosi’s now-postponed visit.

“It’s bad to wolf up on a Congressional icon and champion of democracy. Better for China to stop supporting Russia, threatening Taiwan and start unshackling the people. Freedom and human rights taste good, Mr Wang, try some,” he said on Twitter, addressing the Chinese foreign minister.

The West has accused Beijing of supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, and observers are closely watching China’s moves on Taiwan as Beijing has not ruled out using force to reunite the island nation with the mainland.  ​​

Russia’s suspension from UNHRC

Speaking about Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao said, “Such a serious matter must be handled with extreme caution and in a calm, objective, and rational approach based on facts and truth.”

He warned that the move has set a “dangerous precedent” and is “like adding fuel to the fire,” which is not conducive to conflict de-escalation and even less helpful for efforts to advance peace talks.

“The relevant resolution was not drafted in an open and transparent manner, nor did it follow the tradition of holding consultations within the whole membership to heed the broadest opinions,” he said, adding that the move “will only aggravate the division among member states and intensify the contradictions between the parties concerned.”

Zhao said human rights should be promoted through “constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”

“China firmly opposes the politicization and instrumentalization of the human rights issue, rejects selective and confrontational approaches as well as double standards on human rights issue, and opposes pressuring other countries in the name of human rights,” he added.