Tensions Escalate Further As China Severs Key Lines Of Communication

Tensions have continued to escalate between the US and China this morning as Beijing announces the suspension of a raft of security and diplomatic mechanism with Washington in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) trip to Taiwan.

• According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China:
  • Will cancel dialogues between US and China military leaders,
  • Will suspend US-China cooperation on cross-border crime prevention,
  • Will suspend US-China maritime safety mechanism talks,
  • Will suspend US-China anti-drug cooperation,
  • Will suspend cooperation in repatriating illegal migrants,
  • Will suspend US-China climate talks.
• The announcement from Beijing looks set to plunge US-China relations to the lowest point in decades. The closing of lines of communication in military matters and maritime security significantly increases the risk of military miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
• The US yesterday summoned Chinese ambassador Qin Gang to the White House in response to Chinese ballistic missile tests in the Taiwan Strait.
  • National Security Council spokesman John Kirby: “After China’s actions overnight, we summoned Ambassador Qin Gang to the White House to démarche him about the PRC’s provocative actions. We condemned the PRC’s military actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
• The White House told Qin that it wants to keep all lines of communication open, noting that nothing has changed about the United States’ one-China policy.