China Threatens ‘Strong Measures’ If Pelosi Travels to Taiwan
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
A Chinese government spokesman reissued his warning to the U.S. on Monday about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned visit to Taiwan, saying “China will take strong measures to resolutely respond and counteract” if the Democrat visits the island.
“We are seriously prepared,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in a meeting, according to Reuters.
Lijian was responding to a Saturday report from the Financial Times, which stated the Chinese warnings to the U.S. are stronger than they have been in the past.
“If the U.S. side is bent on going its own way, China will take strong measures to resolutely respond and counteract,” he continued, when asked if China would act militarily or diplomatically.
“The United States should be held responsible for any serious consequences,” he added, according to Reuters.
FT reported about Pelosi’s travel plans last week, citing six officials familiar with the matter claiming she is set to visit Taiwan with a delegation in August.
Lijian responded to the report at the time, warning that the U.S. would take “full responsibility for any ensuing consequences.”
“If Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan, it would seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three China-US joint communiqués and harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It will have a severe negative impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and send a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” Lijian said in a press conference last week.
“Should the U.S. side insist on doing otherwise, China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Lijian added.
President Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday he didn’t know about the status of Pelosi’s trip.
“I think that the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now, but I don’t know what the status of it is,” Biden said.
Pelosi responded to Biden’s comments on Thursday, saying “maybe the military was afraid our plane would get shot down.” She refused to confirm the travel plans.
Taiwan held widespread air raid drills on Monday and citizens were told to stay indoors in preparation for a possible Chinese attack, Reuters reported. A “missile alert” text message was sent out telling people to evacuate to safety.
The air raid drills come as China has repeatedly flown military planes in proximity to Taiwan’s air-defense zone in recent months. In May, Biden also said the U.S. would be ready to defend Taiwan “militarily” if China attacks the island, however, the White House walked back the president’s comments, saying there was no change in policy.
