Washington will not allow China to “isolate” Taiwan, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has said, amid the flare-up of tensions in the region. China has staged a military drill around the Taiwanese coast in response to Pelosi’s visit to the self-governing island, which Beijing said was meddling in its domestic affairs.
“They may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places but they will not isolate Taiwan,” Pelosi told reporters in Tokyo, Japan on Friday as she wrapped up her Asian tour.
“We will not allow them to isolate Taiwan,” she added, insisting that her trip was “not about changing the status quo” in the region.
Despite strong warnings and protests from Beijing, Pelosi visited Taiwan this week and met with the island’s politicians, becoming the highest-ranking US official to do so.