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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 20 July 2022
China threatens ‘strong measures’ if Pelosi visits Taiwan

BEIJING (AP) — China will pointed across the 180 kilo-
take “resolute and strong meter (100 mile) -wide Tai-
measures” should the wan Strait.
Speaker of the U.S. House While Washington main-
of Representatives Nancy tains a policy of “strategic
Pelosi proceed with report- ambiguity” over whether
ed plans to visit Taiwan, the it would defend Taiwan in
Chinese Foreign Ministry a conflict with China, U.S.
said Tuesday. Pelosi, who is law requires it must ensure
second in line to the presi- the island has the means
dency, is due to visit the to defend itself and con-
self-governing island China sider threats to its security
claims as its own territory in as matters of “grave con-
August, according to a re- cern.” Washington main-
port in the Financial Times. tains only unofficial rela-
She was originally sched- tions with Taiwan in defer-
uled to visit in April but had ence to Beijing, but is the
to postpone after she test- island’s strongest political
ed positive for COVID-19. ally and source of defen-
Pelosi would be the high- sive arms.
est ranking American law- Zhao gave no details about
maker to visit the close U.S. what potential actions Chi-
ally since her predecessor U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks at her weekly press conference, July 14, 2022, na might take in response
as speaker, Newt Gingrich, on Capitol Hill in Washington. to Pelosi’s visit, but Beijing
traveled there 25 years Associated Press has generally used military
ago. China has vowed to - principally the U.S. - from forces,” Foreign Ministry ric over U.S. arms sales to flights and war games to
annex Taiwan by force if coming to its aid, more spokesperson Zhao Lijiang Taiwan, demanding the indicate its discontent. Chi-
necessary, and has adver- than 70 years after the sides said at a daily briefing. cancellation of a deal nese pilots have also been
tised that threat by flying split amid civil war. “If the U.S. were to insist worth approximately $108 accused of aggressive ac-
warplanes near Taiwan- A visit by Pelosi would “se- on going down the wrong million that would boost its tion toward surveillance
ese airspace and holding verely undermine China’s path, China will take reso- armed forces’ chances of aircraft from the U.S. and
military exercises based on sovereignty and territorial lute and strong measures survival against its much its allies operating in inter-
invasion scenarios. It says integrity, gravely impact to safeguard its sovereign- bigger foe. China has the national airspace off the
those actions are aimed at the foundation of China- ty and territorial integrity,” world’s largest standing mil- Chinese coast, while using
deterring advocates of the U.S. relations and send a Zhao said. itary, with an increasingly lasers and other methods
island’s formal indepen- seriously wrong signal to China in recent days has sophisticated navy and a to harass foreign warships
dence and foreign allies Taiwan independence also ratcheted up its rheto- huge inventory of missiles in the South China Sea. q

Methanol in blood of teens who died in South African tavern

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME the conclusive results which authorities.
Associated Press are being conducted at Many of the teens, rang-
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — a laboratory in the city of ing in age between 13 and
The toxic chemical meth- Cape Town, he said. 17, were found dead in the
anol has been identified Methanol is a toxic form of tavern, with their bodies
as a possible cause of the alcohol that is used industri- strewn across tables and
deaths of 21 teenagers at a ally as a solvent, pesticide couches. Others died after
bar in the South African city or an alternative source of they were rushed to nearby
of East London last month. fuel. It is not used in the pro- health facilities.
Methanol was found in all duction of alcohol sold for South Africa’s police will be
of their bodies and inves- human consumption. guided by the final results
tigations are continuing It is yet not known how the of the toxicology analysis to
to determine whether the youngsters ingested the determine whether anyone
levels of the toxic chemical methanol. will face criminal charges
were enough to have killed Alcohol poisoning and in- for the 21 deaths, national
them. halation of carbon monox- police minister Bheki Cele A body is removed from a nightclub where 21 teenagers died
“Methanol has been de- ide have both been ruled has said. in the early hours of the morning, in East London, South Africa,
tected in all the 21 individu- out as possible causes of The owner of Enyobeni tav- Sunday June 26, 2022.
als that were there, how- death although traces of ern and some employees Associated Press
ever there is still progressive both were detected in the were arrested and are cur- to prevent alcohol from be- In all three incidents, the
analysis of the quantitative bodies of all 21 victims, said rently out on bail as they ing served to children un- suspects opened fire on
levels of methanol and Matiwane. face charges related to der the legal drinking age patrons before speeding
whether it could have been The teenagers died at the the violation of liquor trad- of 18. off in their vehicles and
the final cause of death,” Enyobeni tavern in East ing laws, including the sale The deaths of the young notably the attackers did
Dr. Litha Matiwane, Eastern London’s Scenery Park of liquor to children. people at the bar in East not rob the victims. In the
Cape provincial deputy di- township in the early hours South African President London are separate from worst incident, gunmen
rector for clinical service, of June 26, shocking the Cyril Ramaphosa spoke the shootings at three bars burst into a bar in Johan-
said at press conference in country and resulting in sev- at a mass funera l for the in South Africa earlier this nesburg’s Soweto township
East London Tuesday. eral investigations by the teens and vowed his gov- month in which a total and opened fire, killing 16
Authorities are still awaiting police and liquor license ernment would take action of 22 people were killed. people.q