Beijing.- China announced today a halt to eight dialogue and cooperation mechanisms with the United States as a continuation of the countermeasures adopted by the visit to Taiwan of the president of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned the cancellation of talks at the level of commanders and defense policy coordination, as well as meetings on a military agreement in the maritime sphere.
He added that talks on climate change and cooperation in the repatriation of illegal immigrants, legal assistance in criminal matters, transnational crimes and drug trafficking are also suspended.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family members, without specifying what they consist of.
But generally, Chinese penalties involve bans on entering the country’s mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as restrictions on companies or institutions affiliated with those sanctioned to do business here.
The Foreign Ministry argued that the US congresswoman traveled to Taiwan without caring about the concerns and opposition of the Asian giant, which constituted a serious example of foreign interference, and put regional peace and stability under threat.
He also called the action a provocation that further undermined the One China principle, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Apart from sanctioning the US legislator, Beijing reacted to her visit with military exercises around Taiwan for four days, punitive measures against individuals, companies and organizations accused of promoting separatism, and a halt to some imports and exports to the island.
On Wednesday Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said that Pelosi’s stay on the island was not a matter of democracy, but of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also accused her of leading a political farce and assured that Beijing will proceed with more “decisive, energetic and effective” countermeasures. (PL)