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Beijing has warned the US not to cross its “red line”, claiming the US House Speaker’s potential visit to Taipei would be met with “resolute countermeasures”.
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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly preparing for a visit to Taiwan next month as part of a broader diplomatic tour of Asia.
Speaker Pelosi’s visit would represent the most senior diplomatic visit to the island nation in decades.
However, the planned trip has caught the ire of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has threatened to take action.
“We have repeatedly made clear our firm opposition to Speaker Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday (28 July).
“If the US side insists on making the visit and challenges China’s red line, it will be met with resolute countermeasures.
“The US must bear all consequences arising thereof.”
Beijing has also condemned Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s renewed commitment to defend the nation against Chinese aggression during a recent public display of Taiwan’s military strength.
“I also want to take this opportunity to make it clear to the Taiwan authorities that the path of ‘Taiwan independence’ will lead to a dead end,” Zhao said during a press conference this week.
“If Taiwan wants to confront the mainland militarily, it will only find it futile and doomed to fail.”
This follows a stern warning from Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe in June.
“We will fight at all costs, and we will fight to the very end,” he said.
“This is the only choice for China.”
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has continued to breach Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ASIZ) with reports of Speaker Pelosi’s visit coinciding with several incursions by JH-7 Xi’an bombers and Y-8 Shaanxi transport aircraft.
Speaker Pelosi’s visit is expected to be raised by President Xi Jinping during a call with US President Joe Biden later this week.
