The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Nepal is closely following the developments in Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island earlier this week which has left China fuming.

“We are closely following the latest developments in Taiwan. We are committed to the one-China policy. Since Nepal is a peace loving country, we stand for world peace,” said Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Friday at a regular press briefing. “Both Nepal and China support each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.”

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the first high level visit by a US official in 25 years, has escalated tensions between Washington and Beijing.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has condemned the US official’s visit as a violation of the one-China principle. Even after Pelosi departed Taipei, China has continued to fire ballistic missiles into waters surrounding Taiwan on Thursday.

Earlier on Friday, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand conveyed to Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi that

Nepal is committed to the one-China policy and will not allow its soil to be used against its neighbors.

On Wednesday, a day after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, Hou in a statement said that China believes Nepal will continue to abide by the one-China principle and understand and support China’s legitimate and justified position and work together with China to defend each other’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

Khand and Hou discussed the latest situation in the Taiwan Strait and Chinese possible assistance for disaster preparedness in Nepal, according to the Khand’s private secretariat.

The Foreign Ministry also announced on Friday Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka’s visit to China on August 9-11 at the invitation of Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.