'There is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit consistent with longstanding US policies into some sort of crisis,' he told reporters. While the Biden administration is understood to be opposed to a Taiwan stop, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Pelosi was entitled to go where she pleased. In a call with US President Joe Biden last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the United States against 'playing with fire' on Taiwan. It tries to keep Taiwan isolated on the world stage and opposes countries having official exchanges with it. 'The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.Ĭhinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said 'the US breach of faith on the Taiwan issue is despicable' in comments published on his ministry's website Tuesday that did not specifically mention Pelosi.īeijing considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan its territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if necessary. The prospect of Pelosi going to Taipei, which would be the highest-profile visit by an elected US official in 25 years, has triggered increasingly bellicose warnings from Beijing that have set the region on edge. The United States will 'pay the price' if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan during her Asia trip, China warned Tuesday, as tensions between the two superpowers continued to soar.

Speculation has centered on threatening military exercises and possible incursions by Chinese planes and ships into areas under Taiwanese control. Pelosi is on an Asian tour this week.Ĭhina has vowed to retaliate if Pelosi becomes the highest US elected official to visit Taiwan in more than 25 years, but has given no details. The United Daily News, Liberty Times and China Times - Taiwan’s three largest national newspapers - cited unidentified sources as saying she would spend the night in Taiwan. Earlier on Tuesday, a plane carrying Pelosi and her delegation left Malaysia after a brief stop that included a working lunch with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Despicable bear 2