China scraps cooperation with US over Taiwan spat

China's drills are taking place along some of the world's busiest waterways

China said Friday it was ending cooperation with the United States on key issues including climate change -- a move Washington decried as "fundamentally irresponsible" as relations between the two superpowers nosedive over Taiwan.

The damaging rift, which carries significant geostrategic risk, was triggered by Chinese fury over a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has vowed to retake -- by force if necessary.

And Friday saw China's foreign ministry hit back further against the United States, suspending talks and cooperation on multiple agreements -- including on climate change.

But that deal now looks shaky in light of China's latest move.

"They think they're punishing us... they're actually punishing the whole world," Kirby said, adding that the only way to defuse tensions was for China to halt its "provocative" military exercises.

"For the secretary-general there is no way to solve the most pressing problems of all the world without an effective dialogue and cooperation between the two countries," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

- 'Our motherland is powerful' -

A fighter jet flew over the Chinese island of Pingtan, prompting tourists to snap photos, according to AFP journalists on the scene. A Chinese military vessel sailing through the Taiwan Strait was also visible.

And state broadcaster CCTV reported that Chinese missiles flew directly over Taiwan -- a major escalation if confirmed.

"Our motherland is powerful. We are not afraid of having war with Taiwan, the US or any country in the world," Liu, a 40-year-old tourist from Zhejiang province, told AFP.

Wang, a businesswoman, was more sanguine about prospects for cross-strait ties.

- 'Significant escalation' -

"The fact is, the speaker's visit was peaceful," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after talks with Southeast Asian foreign ministers at an ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh.

China's foreign minister countered by warning Washington not to escalate tensions.

"We want to issue a warning to the US not to act rashly and not to create a bigger crisis."

On Friday, Japan's foreign ministry said China cancelled a planned bilateral meeting on the ASEAN summit sidelines. 

The manoeuvres are taking place along some of the world's busiest shipping routes, used to disseminate the global supply of vital semiconductors and electronic equipment produced in East Asia.

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Originally published as China scraps cooperation with US over Taiwan spat