Former prime minister Paul Keating has lashed out at former US speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi after she called his comments regarding the China and Taiwan tension “stupid”.
China sees the self-governing island of Taiwan — which it deems sovereignty over — as a breakaway province and the US, Australia and its allies have called for a peaceful resolution.
Keating drew criticism amid global tensions when he labelled Taiwan “Chinese real estate” during an interview with ABC’s 7.30 last week.
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Pelosi said his remark was “ridiculous”.
“It is not Chinese real estate, and he should know that Taiwan is Taiwan, and it’s the people of Taiwan who have a democracy there,” she told 7.30 in an interview due to air tonight.
“I think that was a stupid statement.”
Keating has today hit back at Pelosi, citing her controversial visit to Taiwan in 2022.
“In fact, Pelosi had to be warned by her president, Joe Biden, and with him, the Pentagon, of the military risks of her visit,” he said in a statement titled ‘Pot calling the kettle black’.
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Keating said Australia and the US don’t want to see Taiwan become subject to a takeover but added that both countries — and much of the world — subscribe to China’s ‘One China’ policy.
“This is why I said on 7.30 last week that Chinese and Taiwanese interests will ‘get resolved socially and politically over time. That’s what will happen there’,” he said.
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