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Canada called on China to de-escalate rising tensions over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Pelosi, who landed in Taipei late Tuesday and departed Wednesday, drew a sharp response from Beijing, for announcing several military exercises around the island shortly after her arrival.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said a legislator’s visit should not be an excuse to escalate tensions.
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US will support Taiwan, Pelosi said during visit as China protested
“We are concerned about the escalating tensions in the region,” Joly said during a news conference with his German counterpart in Montreal on Wednesday.
He said China’s threatening actions increase the risk of regional instability, and called on Beijing to reduce tensions.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any involvement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.

Pelosi is the first House Speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years, since Newt Gingrich in 1997. However, other members of Congress, such as Democrat Mark Takano of California, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Colin Allred of Texas and Sara Jacobs of California, and Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, visited Taiwan in the last year.
His planned visit escalated tensions between the US and China last week.
Shortly after Pelosi landed Tuesday night, China announced live-fire drills that reportedly began that evening, as well as four-day drills starting Thursday.
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Taiwan warns Chinese military drills threaten ports, urban areas when Pelosi visits
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force also flew a contingent of 21 warplanes, including fighter jets, to Taiwan late Tuesday. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng also summoned the US ambassador in Beijing, Nicholas Burns, to address the country’s protests that same evening.
On Wednesday, China also banned some imports from Taiwan, including citrus fruits and fish.
“We are very preoccupied by the threatening actions that China is taking and their economic coercion,” Joly told reporters.
He said he had discussed the matter with German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and also spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a few days ago.

Pelosi spoke of Beijing’s threats early Wednesday, saying she hoped it was clear that although China had prevented Taiwan from attending certain international gatherings, “they understand that they will not hinder people who come to Taiwan to show friendship and support.”
He departed Wednesday night for South Korea, the next stop on an Asia tour that also includes Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.
— with files from The Associated Press
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