China sees visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending encouraging messages to those in favor of independence for the island, which it considers its own province.
The speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will visit four Asian countries starting today, her office said, without mentioning Taiwan amid intense speculation that she may go to the island, which China considers a Chinese province.
Nancy Pelosi is “leading a congressional mission to the Indo-Pacific region, with visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan,” her office said in a statement.
The statement said her tour would include those countries, but did not say whether Pelosi’s trip — third in line to replace the US president if needed — might include other stops.
“The trip will focus on mutual security, economic cooperation and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to the statement.
China sees visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending encouraging messages to those in favor of the island’s independence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday that Washington should respect the principle of “one China”, declaring that “those who play with fire will perish from it”.
China “will resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Shen Jinke, the country’s air force spokesman, said today, referring to Taiwan.
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