China warned Wednesday that Washington would “bear the consequences” if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, with tensions soaring between the two countries.
“We are firmly opposed to Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference.
“If the US pushes ahead and challenges China’s bottom line… the US side will bear all the consequences arising therefrom,” he added.
Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of being invaded by China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized by force if necessary.
A possible visit by Nancy Pelosi – yet to be confirmed by the senior Democrat – has stirred alarm in President Joe Biden’s administration, which fears the trip may cross red lines for China.
It comes at an especially fraught time as President Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader in decades, prepares to cement his rule later this year at a major party meeting.
Pelosi told reporters last week it was “important for us to show support for Taiwan,” while denying Congress was pushing for independence for the island.
Taiwan enjoys bipartisan backing in divided Washington and China’s warnings have only fuelled calls for Pelosi to go ahead.
Meanwhile, Biden has still not decided whether to end some trade tariffs on China ahead of a phone call expected this week with Xi, a senior official said.
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said the administration believes the tariffs imposed during a trade war under former president Donald Trump are not working, but that Biden has yet to settle on a next move.
“He wants a review of the tariffs that are in place to make sure that they are aligned with our strategic economic priorities, that they’re in our best national interests, and quite frankly, the best interests of the American people, but he hasn’t made a decision,” Kirby told reporters.
“I don’t have any decision to speak to with respect to tariffs by the president. He’s working this out with his team,” Kirby added.
The call, which is expected this week but has yet to be finally scheduled, will be the fifth between Xi and Biden since the Democrat took office in 2021.
