Pelosi says China “will not isolate Taiwan” as exercises increase near the island

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday responded to China’s live military exercises around Taiwan, saying Beijing would not be able to isolate the self-ruled island or stop US officials from visiting Taipei.

Breaking news: Pelosi made the comments after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo as he wrapped up a congressional delegation’s trip to Asia this week, which included a visit to Taiwan that sparked the drills, which Beijing plans to continue for several days.

• Pelosi condemned the Chinese military for firing missiles into the sea near Taiwan on Thursday, demanding they “immediately” halt the launches as Japanese officials estimated five ballistic missiles landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
• There were no immediate reports of missile launches by the Chinese military on Friday, but Taiwan’s defense ministry said a number of Chinese warships and fighter jets were “participating in exercises around the Taiwan Strait and crossed the middle line”.

What they say: Pelosi said Beijing has tried to isolate Taipei with actions such as opposing the World Health Organization’s recognition of Taiwan.

• “The Chinese made their moves, possibly using our visit as an excuse,” she said.
• “They may try to prevent Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places, but they will not isolate Taiwan,” Pelosi said. “They don’t follow our travel schedule, the Chinese government doesn’t do that.”

Of note: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed concern on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia that Beijing may be trying to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

• “We and countries around the world believe that escalation serves no one and may have unintended consequences that serve no one’s interests, including ASEAN members and including China,” Blinken said.

Flashback: China’s foreign minister said a day before Thursday’s live-munitions drills near Taiwan that Pelosi’s visit to Taipei was a “farce” and those “who offend China will certainly be punished.”

Context: The ruling Chinese Communist Party considers the democratically-ruled island a breakaway province.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.