The Chinese government on Thursday warned that it will take ‘forceful measures’ if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi goes ahead with her plan of visiting Taiwan. The Financial Times had indicated that Pelosi was planning a visit to the Chinese claimed island next month.
The newspaper has said that Pelosi and her delegation will also be visiting Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Pelosi and her delegation are also scheduled to and spend time in Hawaii at the headquarters of U.S. Indo-Pacific command.
Meanwhile Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry insisted that it has “not received relevant information” about any visit.
Asked about the report, Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff told Reuters, “We do not confirm or deny international travel in advance due to longstanding security protocols.”
Pelosi was initially scheduled to visit Taiwan in April, but she put off her plans after she tested positive for Covid.
On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said any visit by Pelosi would “seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“If the U.S. side obstinately clings to this course, China will definitely take resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. “The United States must be fully responsible for all the consequences caused by this.”
When pressed about China’s reaction, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “I believe the foreign ministry was weighing in on a hypothetical. That is something that I will hesitate doing here.”
Taiwan is facing the heat from China which considers the island an integral a part of its territory. The issue is a major thorn in US-China relations. Taiwan however is emboldened by US support and US President Joe Biden’s administration has spoken of its “rock-solid” commitment to the island.
