(The Guardian) China warns US over Pelosi's reported trip to Taiwan
China has warned that its already-fraught relationship with the US will be further damaged if the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, goes ahead with a reported trip to Taiwan next month.
Beijing said on Tuesday it would take “forceful measures” if the visit took place. Pelosi had previously planned to travel with a congressional delegation to Taiwan in April. The trip was delayed because she tested positive for Covid.
Citing multiple sources, the Financial Times – which first reported Pelosi’s trip this week – said Pelosi and her delegation will also stop by Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Hawaii, where they will visit the headquarters of US Indo-Pacific command.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed – repeatedly – to take it back, and by force if necessary. Beijing also calls the island’s democratically-elected president, Tsai Ing-wen a “separatist”.
Back in April, China’s foreign ministry issued a similar warning, saying the trip would “bring serious damage to the foundation of China-US relations, and would send the wrong messages to the Taiwan secessionists.”
Tensions over the island of Taiwan has been on the rise. But China’s Taiwan problem is not only with the United States. In the UK, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee was also said to be planning on a trip to Taiwan in the autumn this year. But sources say the plan is rather uncertain now due to Conservative Party’s leadership competition, which is under way.
China has warned that its already-fraught relationship with the US will be further damaged if the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, goes ahead with a reported trip to Taiwan next month.
Beijing said on Tuesday it would take “forceful measures” if the visit took place. Pelosi had previously planned to travel with a congressional delegation to Taiwan in April. The trip was delayed because she tested positive for Covid.
Citing multiple sources, the Financial Times – which first reported Pelosi’s trip this week – said Pelosi and her delegation will also stop by Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Hawaii, where they will visit the headquarters of US Indo-Pacific command.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed – repeatedly – to take it back, and by force if necessary. Beijing also calls the island’s democratically-elected president, Tsai Ing-wen a “separatist”.
Back in April, China’s foreign ministry issued a similar warning, saying the trip would “bring serious damage to the foundation of China-US relations, and would send the wrong messages to the Taiwan secessionists.”
Tensions over the island of Taiwan has been on the rise. But China’s Taiwan problem is not only with the United States. In the UK, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee was also said to be planning on a trip to Taiwan in the autumn this year. But sources say the plan is rather uncertain now due to Conservative Party’s leadership competition, which is under way.
