China Threatens ‘Real War at Any Time,’ Cuts Climate and Military Talks with US

Beijing continues to lash out at Taipei and Washington over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's notorious trip to Taiwan

A Chinese military official warned that a "real war" with Taiwan could break out anytime. Beijing announced additional actions to punish Taiwan and the US in response to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.

The Chinese government claims Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan violated the "One China" policy that has defined the relationship between Washington, Beijing and Taipei for the past several decades. The past three administrations in the White House have taken an increasingly aggressive posture toward China.

In 2011, President Barack Obama announced the "pivot to Asia" and began increasing America’s military presence in waters claimed by China. President Donald Trump named Beijing an official "competitor" to the US in the 2018 National Security Strategy. Since taking office just over a year and a half ago, Joe Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan on several occasions.

Beijing views Washington ramping up support for Taipai as meddling in China’s internal affairs and has developed military technology to prevent the US from assisting Taiwan.

Shortly after Pelosi left Taipai, China deployed military forces in several positions around Taiwan and fired missiles over the island. Maj. Gen. Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University, explained the drills showed that China has the ability to blockade Taiwan.

He additionally warned the simulation could be turned into a real war at any time. "We can say that we have the ability to switch the exercise into a real war at any point," he said.

China announced new diplomatic and economic actions against the US and Taiwan. On Friday, Beijing canceled talks with Washington on climate change, military relations and other issues. China and the US are the two largest contributors to global emissions.

China also sanctioned Pelosi and her immediate family. On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced new trade restrictions on agricultural products and natural sand.

Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.