China has fired its most direct warning yet amid reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could visit Taiwan on Friday, saying that if the House Speaker’s plane was escorted by American fighter planes, I would not would rule out the possibility of knocking them down.
“If US warplanes escort Pelosi’s plane to Taiwan, that is an invasion.” The PLA has the authority to forcibly destroy Pelosi’s plane and US warplanes, including warning fire and tactical interference. If they are not effective, leave them,” Hu Sijin, a Global Times commentator linked to the state of China, wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, China warned the US not to cross a “red line” by issuing not-so-subtle warnings to a spokesperson, which China considers the third member of the US government, to visit Taiwan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Friday that the United States must be prepared to “bear all the consequences” if Pelosi chooses Taiwan.
National security spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the Pentagon saw no indication of a military threat.
“We don’t have any concrete indications that anything is happening from a military point of view on the Chinese side,” Kirby said.
“There is no reason for that to happen, for it to come to physical tension. There is no reason for this because there has been no change in US policy,” she added.
The spokesperson did not confirm whether he will visit the island of democracy during his Asian tour, which includes stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. Asked about a possible trip to Taiwan on Friday, Pelosi said only: “I’m not talking about my trip because it’s a security issue.”
Speaker Pelosi did not confirm whether she will visit the democratic island during her Asian tour, which includes stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.
The spokesperson added: “The President spoke earlier this term about a strong focus on Asia-Pacific … and the United States Congress will be a part of that initiative.”
Still, tensions have increased over the possibility that the Chinese Navy is monitoring the activities of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier in the South China Sea.
Reagan and his strike group left Singapore on Monday for the South China Sea. The nuclear-powered vessel was sailing about 185 kilometers (115 miles) off the disputed Fiery Cross Reef on Thursday, according to the South China Post. If the ships continue in the direction they are going, they will reach the Taiwan Strait.
Two other ships, identified by Vietnam naval observer Duan Dang as a Chinese Type 052D destroyer and a Type 054A frigate, were seen 27 km and 23 km away.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Navy is carrying out military exercises on the southern coast of Guangdong, following exercises in Hainan Province.
President Biden said last week that the Pentagon thought the trip to Taiwan was “not a good idea.”
“Well, I think the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” Biden said in response to a question from Pelosi about the trip. “But I don’t know what the situation is.
President Joe Biden posted a photo on his Twitter account following a two-hour conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning, the fifth between the two since Biden took office.
According to Chinese state media, Sima warned Biden about the call: “He who plays with fire will only get burned. I hope the American side sees this clearly.’
The call comes as Taiwan continues its biggest military exercises in history, while neighboring China is unhappy about Nancy Pelosi’s possible visit to the island. Pictured: The Taiwanese navy launches a U.S.-made ballistic missile from a frigate during the annual Han Kuang exercise at sea near Suao navy port in Yilan County on July 2.
Biden and President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Thursday, with China offering a stern warning ahead of the unconfirmed trip.
Chinese state media published several excerpts from the call, including Xi telling Biden: “Anyone who plays with fire will only get burned. I hope the US side sees this clearly.’
The leader of the People’s Republic of China also stated that he is firmly opposed to Taiwan independence and interference by foreign powers.
On the other hand, Biden expressed that the US position on this issue has not changed, according to the meeting.
“Regarding Taiwan, President Biden emphasized that U.S. policy has not changed and that the United States is firmly opposed to unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the notice reads.
When White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre was asked to comment on whether the announcement was an escalation of tensions, she declined to comment.
“They had a very direct conversation. They’ve known each other for a long time. President Biden has known President Xi for about four decades, Karine said at a daily briefing on Thursday.
If the call helped ease tensions, Jean-Pierre reiterated that the call was “direct” but declined to comment further.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory, although Taiwan is considered an autonomous territory. The United States has long practiced “strategic uncertainty”: deliberately not providing aid to Taiwan if China invades and maintaining only informal relations. In recent years, that informal relationship has become strained, with Biden repeatedly refusing to defend Taiwan before White House officials backed off and said the US position had not changed.
Source: Daily Mail
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