The White House warned that China could respond to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan with military provocations. Such actions could take the form of missile fire near Taiwan or large-scale air or naval activities.
This was said by White House National Security spokesman John Kirby as reported by the BBC, Tuesday (2/8). Pelosi is currently traveling around Asia. Taiwanese and US media have said he plans to visit Taipei, but this has not been confirmed by the US government.
Taiwan is a self-governing island that is claimed by China. China has warned of serious consequences if Pelosi went to Taiwan. On Monday, China's envoy to the United Nations Zhang Jun warned the visit would damage relations between Beijing and Washington, Reuters news agency reported.
Pelosi, a senior figure in the Democratic Party, has long been an outspoken critic of China's leadership, denouncing its human rights record. Pelosi has previously met with pro-democracy dissidents and visited Tiananmen Square to commemorate the victims of the 1989 massacre.
Pelosi kicked off her tour of Asia on Sunday, with stops scheduled in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Pelosi originally planned to visit Taiwan in April, but postponed the trip after she tested positive for Covid-19. Earlier this month Pelosi said it was "important for us to show support for Taiwan".
Pelosi's long history of opposing Beijing
US President Joe Biden said the US military believed Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was not a good idea at this time.
On Monday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said China's escalation could include making "false legal claims" in the future, for example by claiming that the Taiwan Strait is not an international waterway.
He said other signs suggested Beijing could send flights to the island, as part of a planned attack on Taiwanese airspace.
Kirby pointed out that former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich had visited Taiwan in 1997, and that another US lawmaker visited Taiwan earlier this year.
"Nothing has changed. There is no drama to talk about. It is not without precedent for a House Speaker to go to Taiwan," he said, adding that Pelosi was traveling on a US military aircraft during her Asia tour.
Speaking at the United Nations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on China to be measured in terms of Pelosi's visit.
"If the Speaker of the House decides to visit, and China tries to create some kind of crisis or escalate tensions, it will be entirely Beijing's responsibility," he told reporters after nuclear non-proliferation talks in New York.
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