Beijing warns: China’s military will “not sit idly by” if Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan

China has once again warned that its military will “not sit idly by” if US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi pays a visit to the Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), as tensions continue to soar between Beijing and Washington over the potential visit.

China’s Foreign Military spokesman Zhao Lijian sounded the latest warning during a regular press conference on Monday, saying since Pelosi, in status terms, is the “No. 3 official of the US government”, her visit of the self-ruled island would “lead to egregious political impact.”

The warning came as Pelosi began a tour of four Asian countries on Monday in Singapore amid intense speculation that she might risk the wrath of Beijing by also paying a visit to the Chinese Taipei.

China has repeatedly warned the US government against formal ties with Taiwan, which is the sovereign territory of China, which views visits by American officials to the island as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp there.

Under the “one China” policy, nearly all countries across the globe recognize Beijing’s sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei, including the US, which has no formal diplomatic ties with the territory, but continues to court the secessionist government in Taipei, support its anti-China stance and supply it with massive amounts of armaments.

A day earlier, Pelosi’s office said that she was leading a Congressional delegation to the region that would include visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. However, it made no mention of Taiwan.

A visit by Pelosi, who is third in the line of succession to the presidency and a long-time critic of China, would come amid deteriorating relations between the US and China.

During a phone conversation on Thursday, Chinese President Chinese Xi Jinping warned his American counterpart Joe Biden that Washington should stick to the “one China” principle and “those who play with fire will perish by it.”

Chinese Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke on Sunday said that Beijing would “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Speaking during an air show, he added that the air force has many types of fighter jets capable of circling “the precious island of our motherland”, referring to Taiwan.

The visit has already sounded the alarm in Biden’s administration, which fears it might cross red lines for China. Last month, Biden said the US military “thinks it’s not a good idea right now.”

As Beijing and the US military oppose the visit, it has drawn support from both Republicans and Democrats in the US. However, US national security officials were, according to CNN, quietly working to convince Pelosi of the risks her potential visit to Taipei could pose during a highly-sensitive moment between China and the Chinese Taipei.

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