China has issued strong warnings to the administration of US President Joe Biden against a possible visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August.
The warnings were much stronger than threats previously made by Beijing when it was dissatisfied with US actions or policy regarding Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. The newspaper quoted the sources as saying that this private letter indicates a possible military response.
The National Security Council and the US State Department declined to comment on this report. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Sunday.
China is intensifying its military activity around Taiwan in an effort to pressure the democratically elected government there to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan’s government says only the island’s 23 million residents can decide their future and that, despite its desire for peace, it will defend itself if attacked.
The newspaper Financial Times, reported on July 18 that Pelosi plans to visit Taiwan in August.
A day later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the United States would bear the consequences of its response.
On Wednesday, Biden said he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the month, and appeared to question reports of Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.
“I think the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now, but I don’t know what the situation is,” Biden told reporters.
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