China-Pelosi/Defense Ministry/Countermeasures

Shotlist

Beijing, China – Aug 8, 2022 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Screenshot of statement of Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian on canceling three China-U.S. military talks

Beijing, China – Aug 8, 2022 (CGTN – No access Chinese mainland)
2. Photo of Wu

Beijing, China – Aug 8, 2022 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
3. News anchor reading out remarks by Wu on canceling three China-U.S. military talks

FILE: Beijing, China – Date Unknown (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
4. Tian’anmen Rostrum
5. Chinese national flag
6. Various of Great Hall of People, Chinese national emblem

FILE: Washington D. C., USA – Date Unknown (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of Capitol Building, U.S. national flag

Storyline

The United States should take full responsibility for the cancellation of military talks between China and the U.S., said spokesperson of China’s Ministry of National Defense Wu Qian on Monday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced eight countermeasures in response to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to China’s Taiwan region. Of the eight countermeasures, the first three canceled China-U.S. military talks, including Theater Commanders Talk, Defense Policy Coordination Talks and Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings.

In a statement published on China’s Ministry of National Defense website, Wu defended these countermeasures. The following is the full text of his remarks:

The current tensions in the Taiwan Strait are entirely provoked and cultivated by the U.S., and the U.S. must take the full responsibility and bear the serious consequences for it. China has stated its stern position on China-U.S. military relations and the Taiwan question, and made several stern representations with the U.S. regarding Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to China’s Taiwan region. The U.S., however, was two-faced, condoned and supported such visit and deliberately created tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

In response to such vicious provocative actions, China announced eight countermeasures, including canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk, canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT), and Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings. China’s countermeasures are necessary warnings to the U.S. provocations, and legitimate defense to the national sovereignty and security. They are completely reasonable and appropriate.

The bottom lines cannot be breached, and the communication requires sincerity. On the one hand, the U.S. is creating crisis, on the other hand, it is claiming to manage crisis, making excuses and trying to cover up for its wrong words and deeds and provocative actions, and even trying to hype up the issue, mislead the public and shirk its responsibility. We are firmly opposed to that.

We urge the U.S. to make concrete efforts to respect China’s core interests and major concerns, give up the illusion of “containing China with Taiwan,” and stop taking the wrong path.