China Issues Major New Threats as Pelosi Plans Taiwan Trip
It’s official: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to visit Taiwan, despite stern objections from both China and US President Joe Biden.
Pelosi’s potential trip has been a controversial one, certainly, with China long refusing to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. Having a US diplomat visit undermines China’s already unethical position, and as such, Beijing has felt the need to become rather belligerent about it.
Now that Madame Speaker is said to be making plans to touch down in Taipei, Beijing is turning belligerent.
After rampant speculation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be visiting Taiwan and meeting with government officials this week, according to reports, and the former editor of a Chinese state-run publication has issued a dire warning.
While certain details remain up in the air, Pelosi is expected to go to Taiwan following her current stop in Singapore. She is reported to have planned meetings with Taiwanese officials and others on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.
“She’s definitely coming,” a person familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal. “The only variable is whether she spends the night in Taipei.”
The threats arrived soon after the move was announced.
“China will take resolute and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. As for what measures exactly we will take, let’s wait and see if she dares making the visit,” as spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said about the possibility of Pelosi going to Taiwan.
Chinese media personality Hu Xijin responded to the news with a warning of what could follow.
“Let her go to Taiwan. But pray before departure: wish herself a safe journey and wish herself not be defined by history as a sinner who starts a spiral of escalation process expanding military frictions to a large-scale war in the Taiwan Strait,” the former Global Times chief editor said.
This isn’t the first major threat from Xijin, who earlier suggested that China simply shoot down Nancy Pelosi’s plane as it approaches Taiwan.
