China Summons US Ambassador Overnight, Says Washington “Must Pay The Price”

CHINA/USA: It’s the middle of the night local time, but China has announced the foreign ministry has summoned US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in order to “protest” Pelosi’s landing in Taiwan, where she’s due to meet with Tsai Ing-wen in the morning. This as PLA military drills surrounding the self-ruled island are reported to be ongoing, including ‘live fire’ exercises.

According to a readout in state-run Global Times, “China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng summoned US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns overnight to protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan island late Tuesday night, stressing that the nature of Pelosi’s visit is extremely vicious and the consequence is very grave. The Chinese side will not sit idly by.”

Further GT writes, “Noting that the US government should have restrained Pelosi’s unscrupulous move and prevented her from going against the historical trend but instead indulged her and colluded with her, which exacerbates the tension in the Taiwan Straits and seriously damages China-US ties, Xie said the US must pay the price for its own mistake. China will take necessary and resolute countermeasures and we mean what we say.”

This “pay the price” warning will likely only be revealed in full, in terms of the options Beijing has in store for both Washington and Taipei, in the coming days or even weeks after Pelosi departs tomorrow.

* * *

Update(1308ET): In the overnight hours (local time), Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has issued a response to the large-scale PLA drills in surrounding waters: “We are fully aware of military activities near Taiwan and will send our forces as appropriate in response to enemy threats.”

The PLA drills will continue for days, possibly through Aug.7 – raising the risk for an incident between the Chinese, Taiwanese, and possibly the US militaries. Additionally Taiwan’s military has warned citizens to remain on “high alert” and to not believe in rumors. The statement continued:

“The Chinese maneuvers aim to intimidate our citizens psychologically… We are closely monitoring the situation and have strengthened our preparations… We have confidence and the ability to protect our security.”

21 PLA aircraft (J-11*8, J-16*10, KJ-500 AEW&C, Y-9 EW and Y-8 ELINT) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on August 2, 2022. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/F5Qf2OVXao pic.twitter.com/1EJEdsDQGM

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 2, 2022

“America stands with Taiwan” – Pelosi emphasized after she touched down earlier, before 11pm local time.

Our visit reiterates that America stands with Taiwan: a robust, vibrant democracy and our important partner in the Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/2sSRJXN6ST

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022

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Update(11:56ET): As expected China’s response has been swift, with the PLA military kicking off ‘live fire’ drills in multiple areas in waters surrounding Taiwan. Beijing announced these exercises will continue from the evening of Aug.2 (literally having started within the hour of Pelosi landing in Taipei) through the next days.

China has further vowed what a statement called “targeted military actions” in response to the official visit. Additionally this is to include missile tests off of Taiwan’s east coast…

China’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday night it will conduct a series of targeted military operations to “safeguard national sovereignty” in response to Pelosi’s visit. It vowed to “resolutely thwart external interference” and ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist attempts’.”

From 12pm (Beijing Time) August 4 to 12pm August 7, 2022, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will conduct important #militaryexercises and training activities including live-fire #drills in the following maritime areas and their air space. https://t.co/r7kbACdrQl pic.twitter.com/UpoIO4xA9l

— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) August 2, 2022

It’s confirmed that Pelosi will stay the night, and is expected to next meet with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, and then depart the island.

Some Western commentators are taking note of just how close to Taiwan’s coast the PLA exercises are taking place – even within Taiwan-claimed waters. “Beyond Taiwan’s territorial waters, China’s published maps show that they plan to conduct military operations within Taiwan’s Internal Waters (purple -approx line) in two areas. This is as close as you can get without landing on the beaches…” wrote one observer.

“As close as you can get” and therefore unprecedented, based on maps confirmed in state-run Global Times.

Given the location of PLA “shooting exercises” – said to be in six regions surrounding the self-ruled island, according to a map circulating posted to Weibo, a natural question arises: will the situation be safe and secure enough for Pelosi’s US Air Force-operated Boeing C-40C to depart the island the next day? Is China sending a stern message in ‘boxing’ off the island?

Based on what I know, in response to Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan, Beijing has formulated a series of countermeasures, including military actions.

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) August 2, 2022

The US is urged to clearly see the historical context, and the DPP must abandon the “Taiwan independence” attempt as any such move will be crushed by the strong power of the Chinese people in opposing “Taiwan independence” and promoting reunification: Office https://t.co/LmvolnTpjW

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 2, 2022

Meanwhile some of the latest reaction statements from Beijing, via a Xinhua and Bloomberg:

• Says the visit sends wrong signal to Taiwan separatist forces
• Says it’s very dangerous act of playing with fire, those who play with fire will set themselves on fire
• China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the visit, and has lodged solemn representations and strong protests with the US side
• China urges US to stop interfering with domestic affair by “playing Taiwan card”

* * *

Update(11:10ET): Some quick reaction headlines after Pelosi has landed in Taipei, and is expected to stay overnight:

• CHINA PLA SAYS TO CONDUCT MILITARY DRILLS ON AUG. 4-7: XINHUA
• CHINA SAYS PELOSI’S VISIT VIOLATES ONE CHINA PRINCIPLE: XINHUA
• PELOSI’S VISIT ‘SEVERLY IMPACTS’ CHINA-US FOUNDATION: XINHUA
• MOFA SAYS VISIT VIOLATES CHINESE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY: XINHUA
• 10-YEAR YIELD HITS SESSION HIGH AS TAIWAN FOREIGN MINISTER GREETS U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI, LAST UP 7 BPS AT 2.6757%
• CHINA SAYS VISIT ‘DANGEROUS ACT OF PLAYING WITH FIRE’: XINHUA
• PELOSI: TALKS W/ TAIWAN TO FOCUS ON REAFFIRMING OUR SUPPOR
• PELOSI: VISIT IN NO WAY CONTRADICTS LONGSTANDING US POLICY
• PELOSI: MY TRIP TO TAIWAN REFLECTS MY COMMITMENT TO A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY

Pelosi’s office released her official statement upon landing:

“Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Indo-Pacific — including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance.  Our discussions with Taiwan leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.  America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”

“Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan – and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances.  The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo.”

America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022

A WSJ correspondent notes “Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry is hosting a live stream of a welcoming ceremony for a very special, albeit unnamed, guest at Taipei Songshan Airport.” Meanwhile, regional reporting says a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Su-35 fighter jet(s) is crossing the Taiwan Straight. Breaking headlines:

LIVE FEED:

Update(10:17ET): Bloomberg is reporting China has closed airspace above the Taiwan Strait to all civilian aircraft.

CIVIL DEFENSE WARNING SIRENS TURNED ON IN CHINA

📹| Camouflage covers of anti-aircraft missiles have been removed at #Songshan Airport, where #Pelosi will land.

-Taiwan presspic.twitter.com/uLs2MLvehL

— EHA News (@eha_news) August 2, 2022

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Update(9:58ET): Pelosi’s Air Force plane – the “most watched” aircraft in the world right now – is believed to be about 30 minutes out from landing at Taipei’s Songshan International Airport after departing Malaysia hours prior. It’s currently 9:58pm in Taiwan, with prior reports estimating a 10:20 touch down. The latest via newswires:

• TAIWAN AIR FORCE FIGHTERS ESCORTING PELOSI FLIGHT; TO LAND IN 30 MINS
• CHINA CLOSES AIRSPACE ABOVE TAIWAN STRAIGHT TO ALL CIVILLIAN AIRCRAFT

SPAR19, a USAF C40, has filed Taipei as its destination. pic.twitter.com/f37EAwaHIA

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) August 2, 2022

Apparently ~345,000 people are spending an August summer evening watching a map of Pelosi’s plane https://t.co/KV46iJTDGC

— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) August 2, 2022

As of minutes ago on FlightTracker24…

It appears the Taiwanese people are ready to greet her with precisely the kind of official fanfare that will likely provoke a severe reaction from China…

📹| #Taiwans tallest building, Taipei 101, displays a message to thank Nancy Pelosi and the U.S. as she approaches the island pic.twitter.com/EKMDqHdYfr

— EHA News (@eha_news) August 2, 2022

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Update(8:27ET): Sources speaking to Reuters have detailed that Chinese warplanes buzzed the dividing line separating the Taiwan Strait earlier in the day as House Speaker Pelosi’s US Air Force plane is said to be en route. In what marks the clearest sign that Beijing has prepped potential ‘military options’ – a flurry of Eastern Theater Command activity is taking place in waters and airspace just outside the self-ruled island of Taiwan:

In addition to Chinese planes flying close to the median line of the strait, several Chinese warships sailed near the unofficial dividing line since Monday, the source told Reuters. The source said both Chinese warships and aircraft “squeezed” the median line on Tuesday morning, an unusual move the person described as “very provocative.”

The Chinese aircraft repeatedly conducted tactical moves of briefly “touching” the median line and circling back to the other side of the strait on Tuesday morning, while Taiwanese aircraft were on standby nearby, the person said.

There have been conflicting reports that Taiwan’s forces are on “high alert” – particularly on the outer islands, however, which the defense ministry has sought to downplay.

📹| A new convoy of Chinese Army armored vehicles has arrived in #Fujian, the closest province to #Taiwan.pic.twitter.com/pr24fQbg0t

— EHA News (@eha_news) August 2, 2022

At the same time, social media continues to be flooded with videos appearing to show Chinese military hardware and armored convoys surging into Fujian province, which is the part of the mainland nearest Taiwan.

In follow-up, The South China Morning Post writes that this stepped up PLA activity is expected to continue:

The PLA could send warplanes across the median line that divides the Taiwan Strait if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the democratic island, and analysts say it could start happening more regularly.

…A military source close to the People’s Liberation Army said it would step up its pressure campaign against Taiwan in response to a Pelosi visit and that “Beijing will give Taipei a hard time” afterwards.

But importantly, China’s defense ministry has emphasized it has never recognized the legitimacy of the “dividing line” – claiming the whole of the territorial waters as China’s.

JUST IN – Both aircraft carriers of China’s People’s Liberation Army move out from homeports, communist state-media reports.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 2, 2022

Confirmation is now coming out that the official website of Taiwan’s presidency came under cyberattack earlier in the day.

President spokesman Xavier Chang described it as notably severe, “some 200 times worse than usual” – he said according to Bloomberg. At one point the website was inaccessible, but later came back online, he described, saying further that “government agencies will continue to strengthen monitoring to maintain the security of national information and communications, and the stable operation of key infrastructure.”

* * *

It’s after 7:00pm in Taiwan, and Reuters reports that the military aircraft likely carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her delegation has departed Malaysia and could be bypassing the South China Sea, where the Chinese navy has been conducting sporadic military drills.

The plane widely believed to be Pelosi’s departed Kuala Lumpur at 3:42pm local time, with the destination listed as “N/A”. However some have noted another US Air Force C-40C had landed in Kuala Lumpur on the same day Pelosi was there, so it’s still uncertain which aircraft could be transporting the House Speaker.

Looks like Pelosi’s plane C40C is carefully avoiding flying over South China Sea, now passed thru Kalimantan on its way to Taiwan’s Songshan airport pic.twitter.com/xvpB1WHUuM

— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) August 2, 2022

Reuters further observes that “In addition to the military incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on a nearly daily basis this year, two Chinese warships – a missile destroyer and guided-missile frigate – were also tracked in international waters off the coast of Lanyu Island in eastern Taiwan early Tuesday morning.”

On Monday evening, Taiwan and US media sources said she’s expected to touch down at Taipei Songshan Airport at 10:20pm Tuesday night.

China’s foreign ministry has repeated that it’s prepared to respond to what it says is a blatant violation of its sovereignty and the One China principle with “forceful measures”. Some serious military hardware is meanwhile being maneuvered on the ground in nearby Fujian province, which sits just across from the self-ruled island.

Footage has emerged on #Chinese television showing how Chinese Armed Forces pull military equipment into #Fujian province, close to #Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/5rwqDw4Sq9

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 2, 2022

The PLA’s Eastern Theater command appears to still be engaged in ‘live fire’ drills in a show of force.

Large military convoys have been seen traversing civilian streets in Fujian. It’s long been known that any serious Chinese military action threatening Taiwan would likely be staged from this portion of the mainland which sits most closely to Taiwan, just across the strait.

🇨🇳🇹🇼 #China

Air defense live-ammunition drill in Fujian 😯😯 PLA is enhancing combat readiness ! pic.twitter.com/mI9pfKS4ee

— Yin Sura 尹苏拉 (@yin_sura) August 2, 2022

In Fujian right now😯😯 pic.twitter.com/hHxfPTDQEo

— Yin Sura 尹苏拉 (@yin_sura) August 2, 2022

As for US Navy positioning, Reuters has separately reported:

Four U.S. warships, including an aircraft carrier, were positioned in waters east of Taiwan on what the U.S. Navy called routine deployments on Tuesday amid Chinese anger over U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit the island.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports emerging that the website of the Taiwan presidency has been subject to a cyberattack Tuesday, just as Pelosi’s plane appears to be en route.

The Chinese foreign minister has also just issued a fresh threat, saying Pelosi is playing “with fire” – repeating President Xi’s words last Thursday in his phone call with Biden – and says she risks the US becoming an enemy of “1.4 billion Chinese people” and thus “will not meet with a good end.”

…Some US politicians who selfishly play with fire on the Taiwan question, becoming the enemies to 1.4 billion Chinese people, will not meet with a good end, Wang said after attending SCO FMs meeting and paying visits to some countries in Central Asia https://t.co/3rBG3A2koj

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 2, 2022

developing…

by Tyler Durden