Today. For the first time since Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
Beijing retaliated against the United States cutting off dialogue
on multiple topics. Nick Schifrin has that story and sits down with
Taiwan's most senior official in the US
Beijing is foreseen Taiwan to pay the heaviest cost for Pelosi's
visit. But today China targeted Washington and announced it would
suspend dialogue on climate change with a senior US official characterized
as punishing the whole world militarily. It is canceling talks between
regional commanders and defense policy officials as well as meetings
to discuss operations, which the U. S official Warren could lead
to misperceptions and miscalculations. And today, Beijing sanctioned
Pelosi and her family.
As for Taiwan, China has launched the largest military exercises
around the island in 25 years. The Chinese are firing missiles in
the blocks that surround the island, some within Taiwan's territorial
waters and to discuss this we are joined by the top Taiwanese official
in the United States representative became Seattle. Thank you very
much. Welcome to the news hour.
Thanks for having me. You pushed for this visit given today what
we've seen Chinese missiles flying over Taipei Chinese missiles landing
inside Taiwanese territorial waters and now up to 1000 Taiwanese
products banned by Beijing. Do you think it was worth it?
Well, I have to say that the people of Taiwan, um cherish our friends
in the international community. We have a very unique perspective
on friends visiting us For too long.
Taiwan has been bullied and marginalized and isolated from the world
banned from international organizations. We don't take our democracy
for granted, and we don't take our friends for granted. What about
the long term consequences of this visit? It seems like China China
is trying to create a kind of new
Military status quo. Launching these missiles, disrupting
A saline around the island, taking into account Taiwanese territorial
waters. Can you or the US do anything to prevent that? Well, what's
alarming is obviously China has been preparing, um, for such military
build up for a long time way before Speaker Pelosi decided to visit
Taiwan.
The scope and the range of the current exercises. To demonstrate
that this has long been in becoming China's escalation is unreasonable
and unnecessary.
We think it's important that they understand such engagements between
the people of Taiwan and the people around the world are consistent
with decades of practice. Um, and there is no reason for them to
escalate. Are we worried and concerned? Yes, And that is why we are
also committed to investing in our own self defenses in fortifying
are symmetric capabilities.
Um, in reforming our reserves, in better integrating civilian support
in our homeland defenses, But I have to make clear that we don't
want war. We want peace. We will do anything we can to deescalate.
But we will not surrender our freedom. Those are the very steps.
You just listed that the U. S actually has been pushing Taipei to
take in terms of how to defend itself militarily, But are you concerned
that these exercises by Beijing are a way for them?
To practice a blockade, as Beijing has suggested.
Well, we cannot control what Beijing does, Although we continue to
urge them to work with us to resolve our differences in a peaceful
way. The status quo which we are committed to has served the interests
of all parties involved for decades, and we call on the People's
Republic of China and the Communist Party of China.
Um, to exercise restraint.
And be reasonable. Are you seeing any restraint or reasonableness?
Given that Beijing is saying they're going to operate this weekend
inside your territorial waters? Will they, as we speak, are conducting
live fire drills around Taiwan and again, we we urge them to act
with reason and again remind them, um, that it is up to Beijing to
decide.
If China's growth and rejuvenation is done with international respect,
or with international condemnation. Rejuvenation, of course, is the
word that she's jumping himself uses. Let me ask you about something
else. President Biden said. Publicly quote the military does not
want Pelosi to go. Privately, Administration officials tried to convince
Pelosi not to go to Taiwan. Do you disagree?
With some of those administration steps. Well, I'm not going to talk
about their private conversations. Um, but what I can say is the
views from and perspectives from Taiwan and that is we have welcomed
congressional delegations to Taiwan for decades, including a former
speakers to Taiwan, but it doesn't sound like the White House necessarily
feels the same way. Well, I I think, ultimately, um, our friends
in the United States understand democracy. They also
Understand the sentiments of the people of Taiwan who seek greater
international support and also gestures of support. Let me ask you
about US policy moving forward. Um congressional officials in the
last few days have said publicly at the administration has concerns
with the Taiwan Policy Act, which would require $4.5 billion of military
aid to Taiwan and designate Taiwan as a major NATO non NATO ally.
Do you support legislation and again? Do you disagree with any efforts
by the administration?
Against that legislation.
There are a number of legislative initiatives are we respect the
legislative process here in the United States? We haven't talked
about any specific aspects of this bill. But we are exploring some
very, um meaningful ways in strengthening Taiwan's self defense.
That includes, for example, continuing foreign military cells that
again is not unprecedented. It has been ongoing over the years. Yesterday,
the White House made a rare announcement.
About troop deployments and said that the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft
carrier, and its associated chips would remain in the area.
Uh, east of Taiwan and would also conduct quote standard transits
through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks. How important
Are those transit and how important is it that those go off that
any kind of hitch? Well, I think it's important to assert that the
Taiwan Straits, um
Ah are high seas and the freedom of navigation. Um, is a very important
part of global commerce. It has worked for all of us, including for
China's economic development. Beijing has been a bit ambiguous about
whether the Taiwan Strait is international waters. Do you fear that
Beijing could try and somehow disrupt an American freedom of navigation?
Beijing is doing a lot and I'm not going to speak on their intentions
or what they plan to do, but I think it's in everyone's interests
in the world to make sure we have a rules based international order
and the stakeholders in the region should also abide by a rules based
international order.
Um peace and stability has served everyone's interest and again.
We call on the leadership in China to exercise reason and restraint
and to recognize the importance of peace and stability in the region.