Taiwanese leader says island ‘won’t provoke but will firmly defend’ amid mainland military drills

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has said the self-ruled island won’t provoke any conflict but will firmly defend its sovereignty and national security. Tsai made the comments in a public video address on August 4, 2022, as mainland China launched unprecedented military drills encircling Taiwan. The exercises began after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei despite Beijing’s repeated warnings. Pelosi is the highest-ranking official from the United States to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunited by force if necessary. It warns against official ties with Taiwan, which most countries don’t recognise as a sovereign state. The US acknowledges the one-China principle, but opposes moves to take Taiwan by force.