It is still unclear whether US top politician Pelosi will travel to Taiwan – but tensions in the relationship between China and the US are increasing. Now Beijing is again warning of a “very serious situation”.
China has again warned the United States of a “very serious situation and consequences” should US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi make an unannounced visit to Taiwan. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the Beijing press on Monday that such a visit would be “blatant interference in China’s internal affairs.”
“The Chinese side is fully prepared for any eventuality,” Zhao Lijian said of speculation that Pelosi could also visit Taiwan as part of her Asia tour this week. “The People’s Liberation Army will not stand by, and the Chinese side will certainly take vigorous and decisive action to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Taiwan is not officially on the itinerary
The first stop of their Asia trip in Singapore on Monday included talks with the government and a reception by the US Chamber of Commerce. Pelosi also wants to visit Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. While Taiwan is not on her officially announced itinerary, Chinese state media have expressed concern that she might ignore warnings from Beijing and go there anyway.
A visit by the 82-year-old would be the highest-ranking US visit to Taipei in decades. Pelosi is number three in the United States after the President and Vice President. China’s leadership regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic and rejects official contacts by its diplomatic partners with the government in Taipei. On the other hand, Taiwan, which has a population of 23 million, has long considered itself independent.
Chinese invasion of Taiwan feared
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has fueled fears that China could take the island’s democratic republic by force in a similar manner. Tensions around Taiwan have not been this high since the 1990s. China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping sees it as his mission to implement “unification” and is threatening military conquest.
The United States, in turn, has committed itself to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself – which has so far primarily meant arms deliveries. However, President Joe Biden has gone further than his predecessors and has repeatedly called it a US “obligation” to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China.
Source: Stern
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