On August 5, the Chinese Embassy in the United States held a virtual media briefing. Minister Jing Quan briefed the media about China's solemn position on Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China’s Taiwan region and rejected the unreasonable accusations made by the US against China. Minister-counselor Liu Pengyu of the Information and Public Affairs Section of the Embassy presided over the briefing.

Minister Jing said that the statements and remarks from China's Foreign Ministry, the National People's Congress, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of National Defense clearly stated China's firm opposition to and strong condemnation of Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke about this many times. China lodged solemn representations and strong protests with the US side in Beijing and Washington DC respectively. The People's Liberation Army is conducting drills in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island to deter against the collusion between the US and Taiwan.

Minister Jing stressed that Ambassador Qin Gang sternly rejected the unreasonable accusations of the US side on Chinese military countermeasures when meeting with the officials of the White House National Security Council yesterday. Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced countermeasures, including canceling talks and meetings between the two militaries and suspending cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, legal assistance in criminal matters, against transnational crimes, counter-narcotics and talk on climate change. China also decided to adopt sanctions on Speaker Pelosi and her immediate family members.

Minister Jing stressed three points during the briefing:

First, it is the US that has seriously violated its political commitment to China. In 1979, the United States made a clear commitment in the China-US Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations — “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” 43 years have passed since, and the US has long been committed to not developing official relations with Taiwan.

Congress, as part of the US Government, is obliged to strictly observe the one-China policy of the US Government and refrain from having any official exchanges with China's Taiwan region. When the Speaker, as the third-highest ranking figure in the US government, flies on US military aircraft and makes a provocative visit to the Taiwan region, it is by no means an unofficial action. It gravely upgrades the substantive exchanges between the US and Taiwan. The visit, as her office described it in her arrival statement, is the first ‘official' visit to Taiwan by a Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 25 years. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US Joint Communiqués, as well as the US commitment of "not developing official relations with Taiwan". It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

President Biden has said many times that the United States will not change its one-China policy and does not support “Taiwan independence.” Speaker Pelosi was given full-protocol treatment by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, who make no secret of pursuing independence in their party platform. To the “Taiwan independence” forces, the visit represents an exceptionally strong signal that “the US is on Taiwan's side” , thus will lead them further down a dangerous path, with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait hanging in the balance. This visit seriously violates the US’s repeated commitment of "not supporting Taiwan independence".

The one-China principle is part of the postwar international order, and has become a general international consensus. 181 countries, including the United States, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. We hope the United States will strictly abide by the one-China principle.

Second, it was the US that first provoked China and created tension. It is legitimate and necessary for China to adopt countermeasures. The cause, consequences and merits of the incident are crystal clear. Since the media reported Speaker Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan in April, China has repeatedly made clear to the US the sensitivity and harmfulness of the visit. China clearly pointed out that this may trigger a crisis and seriously damage China-US relations, and all consequences shall be borne by the US side. But the speaker continues down the wrong path, pushing the envelope on China's red lines. We have repeatedly told the US side that China will definitely take all necessary and strong countermeasures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and security. The US side has clearly and unmistakably received China's messages. Speaker Pelosi knows where China's red lines are, but she still chose to deliberately provoke and challenge China's position. This is very dangerous and irresponsible.

The host of measures China is taking and will take are legitimate, necessary and timely countermeasures that are defensive in nature. They have been introduced after serious consideration and careful assessment, and they're aimed at protecting China’s sovereignty and security. They are consistent with international law and domestic laws. They are a warning to the provocateurs and also aimed at protecting regional stability and peace in the Taiwan strait. Some said that China is overreacting and is taking Speaker Pelosi's visit as pretext to create a crisis and escalate tensions. This is completely wrong. They are confounding black with white and shifting blame. The US and Taiwan have made provocations together first, whereas China has been compelled to act in self-defense. You can't just be provocative and not allow others to defend themselves. There is no such thing in the world, not to mention China has repeatedly warned the US before. The responsibility for the current situation does not lie with China at all.

Third, The US must prudently and properly handle the Taiwan question. With both Covid-19 and the Ukraine conflict growing into protracted crises, it is high time for China and the United States to strengthen cooperation and work with other countries to find solutions. We should work together but not provoke the other side. Instead, some politicians choose to damage China's core interests, either to seek the limelight or to cement their political legacy. Their actions will only erode China-US relations and put our peoples and militaries in dangerous situations. Taiwan is one of the very few issues that might take China and the United States to conflict. Extra caution and a sense of responsibility are indispensable when it comes to Taiwan.   The right way for China and the US to get along is to follow the spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, avoidance of confrontation and win-win cooperation. But it requires joint efforts of the two sides.

Minister Jing also took questions from the journalists. Over 30 journalists from Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS News, NPR, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, Politico and South China Morning Post  attended the briefing.