On August 10, 2022, Local media Observer carried an article authored by Her Excellency Madame Zhang Yanling, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Antigua and Barbuda, titled “It is Pelosi’s visit that threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The full text is as follows:

In the past few days after the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi paid a visit to China’s Taiwan region, friendly organizations and people from more than 170 countries have spoken out, reaffirming their firm commitment to the one-China policy and underscoring their understanding and support of China's legitimate position. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also explicitly stressed that the UN remains committed to the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, the centerpiece of which is the one-China principle.

Meanwhile, it came to my attention that local media has been reprinting reporting by news agencies such as BBC, which unjustifiably accuses China of “overacting”, “escalating tensions” and “changing the status quo”. This is nothing but confounding right with wrong and deflecting blame.To set records straight, I would like to make the following points:

First, it is the U.S. who has been irresponsible and escalating the tensions. Since four months ago, China has time and again made clear to the U.S. through multiple channels and at various levels our stern position on Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.We have also made clear that the Chinese side would not sit idly by in the event of such a visit and that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the US side. However, the US has chosen to pursue the wrong course of action in disregard of China’s maximum diplomatic efforts，insisted on provoking china on the Taiwan question, the most important and sensitive matter in China-U.S. Relations. It is the U.S. Side who orchestrated this incident and created problems across the Taiwan Strates. Yet it accuses China of escalating the situation. This is gangster logic.

Second, it is not China but the U.S. and the separatist forces in Taiwan who have been changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has never been a country. There is only one China in the world and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. This has been the status quo of Taiwan since ancient times. The U.S. has made clear commitment to the one-China principle in the Sino-US Joint  Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. However, since the Democratic Progressive Party took office, the Taiwan authorities have been soliciting US support to seek “Taiwan independence”, pushing for “de-sinicization", and trying to create the false impression of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" on various occasions. Meanwhile, the U.S. has continued to hollow out the one-China policy, repeatedly goes against its commitment of only maintaining “unofficial” ties with the Taiwan people. The US has supported and connived at Taiwan-independence separatist forces and made deliberate provocations against China on the Taiwan question. It has been pushing the envelope on China’s red lines. It is these actions that change the status quo and constitute the fundamental reason for the new round of tension.

Third, Speaker Pelosi’s visit has caused severe consequences. It is natural for China to respond firmly. As the incumbent leader of the U.S. Congress, Speaker Pelosi’s visit to China’s Taiwan region is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the commitments made by the U.S. Side. It seriously undermined China's sovereignty, seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”. As a sovereign country China has every right to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our measures are firm, strong and measured; and our military exercises are open, transparent and professional. They are consistent with domestic and international laws, as well as international practices. They are aimed at sending a warning to the perpetrator and punishing the "Taiwan independence" forces.The Chinese competent authorities have issued safety alerts and navigation warnings in advance.

At the same time, China is upholding the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, particularly non-interference in countries' internal affairs, which is the most important international norm enshrined in the UN Charter. If the principle of non-interference is ignored, the world will return to the law of the jungle. It would be even more difficult for the small and medium-sized countries to safeguard their national interests.

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently that the United States would like to see international law observed and national sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld. It is our hope that the U.S. side would honor its words by upholding the principle of non-interference and respecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also hope that friends from Antigua and Barbuda and all the other countries would see the sinister motive of the U.S. to achieve its own agenda by creating problems all over the world.