Beijing retaliated against the United States cutting off dialogue

on multiple topics. Nick Schifrin has that story and sits down with

Taiwan's most senior official in the US

Beijing is foreseen Taiwan to pay the heaviest cost for Pelosi's

visit. But today China targeted Washington and announced it would

suspend dialogue on climate change with a senior US official characterized

as punishing the whole world militarily. It is canceling talks between

regional commanders and defense policy officials as well as meetings

to discuss operations, which the U. S official Warren could lead

to misperceptions and miscalculations. And today, Beijing sanctioned

Pelosi and her family.

As for Taiwan, China has launched the largest military exercises

around the island in 25 years. The Chinese are firing missiles in

the blocks that surround the island, some within Taiwan's territorial

waters and to discuss this we are joined by the top Taiwanese official

in the United States representative became Seattle. Thank you very

much. Welcome to the news hour.

Thanks for having me. You pushed for this visit given today what

we've seen Chinese missiles flying over Taipei Chinese missiles landing

inside Taiwanese territorial waters and now up to 1000 Taiwanese

products banned by Beijing. Do you think it was worth it?

Well, I have to say that the people of Taiwan, um cherish our friends

in the international community. We have a very unique perspective

on friends visiting us For too long.

Taiwan has been bullied and marginalized and isolated from the world

banned from international organizations. We don't take our democracy

for granted, and we don't take our friends for granted. What about

the long term consequences of this visit? It seems like China China

is trying to create a kind of new

Military status quo. Launching these missiles, disrupting

A saline around the island, taking into account Taiwanese territorial

waters. Can you or the US do anything to prevent that? Well, what's

alarming is obviously China has been preparing, um, for such military

build up for a long time way before Speaker Pelosi decided to visit

Taiwan.

The scope and the range of the current exercises. To demonstrate

that this has long been in becoming China's escalation is unreasonable

and unnecessary.

We think it's important that they understand such engagements between

the people of Taiwan and the people around the world are consistent

with decades of practice. Um, and there is no reason for them to

escalate. Are we worried and concerned? Yes, And that is why we are

also committed to investing in our own self defenses in fortifying

are symmetric capabilities.

Um, in reforming our reserves, in better integrating civilian support

in our homeland defenses, But I have to make clear that we don't

want war. We want peace. We will do anything we can to deescalate.

But we will not surrender our freedom. Those are the very steps.

You just listed that the U. S actually has been pushing Taipei to

take in terms of how to defend itself militarily, But are you concerned

that these exercises by Beijing are a way for them?

To practice a blockade, as Beijing has suggested.

Well, we cannot control what Beijing does, Although we continue to

urge them to work with us to resolve our differences in a peaceful

way. The status quo which we are committed to has served the interests

of all parties involved for decades, and we call on the People's

Republic of China and the Communist Party of China.

Um, to exercise restraint.

And be reasonable. Are you seeing any restraint or reasonableness?

Given that Beijing is saying they're going to operate this weekend

inside your territorial waters? Will they, as we speak, are conducting

live fire drills around Taiwan and again, we we urge them to act

with reason and again remind them, um, that it is up to Beijing to

decide.

If China's growth and rejuvenation is done with international respect,

or with international condemnation. Rejuvenation, of course, is the

word that she's jumping himself uses. Let me ask you about something

else. President Biden said. Publicly quote the military does not

want Pelosi to go. Privately, Administration officials tried to convince

Pelosi not to go to Taiwan. Do you disagree?

With some of those administration steps. Well, I'm not going to talk

about their private conversations. Um, but what I can say is the

views from and perspectives from Taiwan and that is we have welcomed

congressional delegations to Taiwan for decades, including a former

speakers to Taiwan, but it doesn't sound like the White House necessarily

feels the same way. Well, I I think, ultimately, um, our friends

in the United States understand democracy. They also

Understand the sentiments of the people of Taiwan who seek greater

international support and also gestures of support. Let me ask you

about US policy moving forward. Um congressional officials in the

last few days have said publicly at the administration has concerns

with the Taiwan Policy Act, which would require $4.5 billion of military

aid to Taiwan and designate Taiwan as a major NATO non NATO ally.

Do you support legislation and again? Do you disagree with any efforts

by the administration?

Against that legislation.

There are a number of legislative initiatives are we respect the

legislative process here in the United States? We haven't talked

about any specific aspects of this bill. But we are exploring some

very, um meaningful ways in strengthening Taiwan's self defense.

That includes, for example, continuing foreign military cells that

again is not unprecedented. It has been ongoing over the years. Yesterday,

the White House made a rare announcement.

About troop deployments and said that the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft

carrier, and its associated chips would remain in the area.

Uh, east of Taiwan and would also conduct quote standard transits

through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks. How important

Are those transit and how important is it that those go off that

any kind of hitch? Well, I think it's important to assert that the

Taiwan Straits, um

Ah are high seas and the freedom of navigation. Um, is a very important

part of global commerce. It has worked for all of us, including for

China's economic development. Beijing has been a bit ambiguous about

whether the Taiwan Strait is international waters. Do you fear that

Beijing could try and somehow disrupt an American freedom of navigation?

Beijing is doing a lot and I'm not going to speak on their intentions

or what they plan to do, but I think it's in everyone's interests

in the world to make sure we have a rules based international order

and the stakeholders in the region should also abide by a rules based

international order.

Um peace and stability has served everyone's interest and again.

We call on the leadership in China to exercise reason and restraint

and to recognize the importance of peace and stability in the region.