People protest Pelosi's visit in Chinese Taipei

People in Chinese Taipei have staged a protest against the visit to the breakaway Chinese island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The protesters, who had gathered in the park in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei where Pelosi was staying during her visit on Tuesday night, voiced their opposition to the visit and chanted anti-US slogans.

According to Press TV, the controversial visit by the high-ranking US official is seen as a blatant violation of the internationally-accepted "one China policy," under which nearly all world countries, the US included, acknowledge Chinese sovereignty over Taipei.

"I don't want war," said one protester at the rally. "If the US visits Taiwan officially, does it mean that they are breaking the one-China principle? Then we'll become the next Ukraine."

Speaking at a joint news conference with Chinese Taipei's president, Pelosi said she and other members of the US Congress were visiting the island to send the unequivocal message that "America stands with Taiwan."

"We are supporters of the status quo," she said. "We don't want anything to happen to Taiwan by force."

Pelosi also said the US wanted Taipei to have freedom with security and would not back away from that position. She added that while China had "stood in the way of Taiwan participating in and going to certain meetings," it should understand that it cannot stand in the way of "people coming to Taiwan as a show of friendship."

ME