China promises 'strong measures' if Pelosi visits Taiwan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jul 2022 00:12
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The British Financial Times newspaper says that China has increased the threshold of its warnings to Washington regarding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August.

Chinese warnings are much more severe than previous threats Beijing has made.

The British Financial Times reported, on Saturday, that in case Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, goes forward with the anticipated visit to Taiwan in August, China has openly warned of "strong measures".

Six sources with knowledge of the Chinese warnings said they were much more severe than previous threats Beijing has made when it disagrees with US actions or Taiwan policy.

However, according to one of the sources, China has previously indicated "stronger opposition" to the US in private. Other people, with knowledge of the circumstance, claimed that the private language went even farther by speculating on a potential military response.

Regarding whether the administration had asked Pelosi to postpone her trip, the National Security Council declined to comment. The Speaker made her own decisions, according to John Kirby, chief of strategic communications for the NSC, who stated on Friday that the NSC staff gave "context, facts, and geopolitical relevant information."

Previously on July 19, China had warned against the visit in April when Pelosi was supposed to embark on her tour, saying it would have a severe impact on Sino-US relations. However, the tour was postponed due to the House speaker testing positive for Covid-19 at the time.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said any visit by Pelosi would "seriously undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"If the US side obstinately clings to this course, China will definitely take resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. "The United States must be fully responsible for all the consequences caused by this."