Speaker 1: (00:01)
China’s latest official documents say it’s not ruling out force when it comes to reunifying with Taiwan. In a white paper released through state media on Wednesday, Beijing withdrew a promise not to send troops or administrators to Taiwan if it takes control. It comes as China’s military appeared to wrap up days of war games around the self-ruled island China claims as its own. Furious at a visit to Taipei last week by US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
Nancy Pelosi: (00:30)
And we want Taiwan to always have freedom with security, and we’re not backing away from that.
Speaker 1: (00:40)
China extended its largest ever exercises around Taiwan beyond the four days originally scheduled. Those exercises prompted Taiwan’s defense ministry on Wednesday to release a video showing its own defensive capabilities. The updated white paper could be a sign that China would grant less autonomy than previously offered. Its ruling communist party had previously proposed Taiwan can return to rule under a one country, two systems model similar to how Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. That proposal has been widely rejected in Taiwan, both by political parties and the public. US president, Joe Biden, this week expressed concern over China’s recent activity to an extent.
Joe Biden: (01:25)
But I don’t think they’re going to do anything wrong.
Speaker 1: (01:27)
A Pentagon official said earlier this week that it did not think China would try to invade Taiwan for the next two years.