US official: China is trying to intimidate Taiwan, and Washington's approach to the conflict has not changed

Daniel Krettenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, considered that China used House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan as an excuse to try to subjugate the island. He stressed that Washington's position on the conflict is consistent and consistent with its diplomatic moves.

Daniel Krettenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, said China's efforts to subdue and undermine Taiwan's resilience could lead to miscalculation and that the pressure campaign was likely to continue.

China, which considers Taiwan a province of its territory, conducted war games and military exercises around the island this month to express its anger at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei.

Speaking by phone on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Krettenbrink said China used Pelosi's trip as an excuse to change the status quo, endangering peace.

"These actions are part of an intense pressure campaign by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, which we expect will continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months," he added.

"The aim of this campaign is clear, which is to intimidate and subjugate Taiwan and undermine its resilience," he added.

Krettenbrink added that the United States has been frank with China that its approach to Taiwan has not changed, including Washington's adherence to the "one China" policy and not supporting the formal independence of Taiwan.

"While our policy has not changed, what has changed is the increasing coercion from Beijing. The words and actions of the People's Republic of China are deeply destabilizing. They risk miscalculation and threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

He noted that the United States has told China in every conversation that it is not seeking to provoke a crisis and will not do so.

Krittenbrink added that US lines of communication with Beijing are still open, and his country will continue routine sea crossings in the Taiwan Strait.

"We will continue to take calm but resolute steps to uphold peace and stability in the face of Beijing's continued efforts to undermine them and support Taiwan in line with our long-term policy," he said.

Taiwan's democratically elected government argues that the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island and therefore has no right to decide its future, which can only be decided by the island's residents without coercion.

Washington does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is obligated by law to provide it with the means to defend itself.

China says Taiwan is the most important and sensitive issue in its relations with the United States.

China conducted military exercises after massive exercises that lasted for several days in the vicinity of Taiwan, the day after the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, during which Beijing sent warships, missiles and aircraft to the waters and airspace near the island.

China considers official contacts between US politicians and the island's government as support for its independence from Beijing.

At the time, the White House considered that China "overreacted."