Former US President Donald Trump criticized Friday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned trip to Taiwan, which has resulted in stern warnings from China but was praised by Republicans in Congress.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said "the China mess is the last thing she should be involved in — She will only make it worse." 

"Everything she touches," he added, "turns to Chaos, Disruption, and 'Crap'."

The former president's remarks put him in conflict with some of his party's members who have commended Pelosi for seeking to preserve "human rights" and "democracy" through her visit to Taiwan as the US uses it to provoke Beijing.

The chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, Rep. Steve Chabot, said the US should show solidarity with Taiwan and not "cower" to the Chinese government's wishes. 

Meanwhile, the White House has not shown enthusiasm for Pelosi's visit, and while President Joe Biden said on July 21 that the military "thinks it's not a good idea right now," he is yet to try and stop her.

Biden had a long phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, during which the two presidents discussed several issues, including the Taiwan Strait. 

Biden insisted that the US opposes any steps that might change the status quo or jeopardize peace across the Taiwan Strait. The White House and Chinese readouts of the call did not mention Pelosi’s trip. 

Beijing has given Pelosi several warnings against her visit to the island, saying it would challenge a "red line" and would be responded to with "strong measures." The Chinese government has stepped up military drills near Taiwan, which it claims sovereignty over, in the past few months. 

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Pelosi was reportedly planning to visit Taiwan in April, but her trip was canceled after she tested positive for COVID-19.

Chinese military conducts drills in South China Sea

China began military exercises in the South China Sea, as per a statement published on the website of China's Maritime Safety Administration on Friday.

The drills will take place in four regions of the South China Sea, including the waters of Guangdong and Hainan provinces, according to the agency's brief statement.

The goals of the exercises, as well as the forces and means involved, were not specified, according to TASS.

Furthermore, the Maritime Safety Administration reported that China intends to conduct firing exercises in the South China Sea on August 2 and 3.

The exercise will take place west of the Leizhou Peninsula, according to the agency's website. Maritime traffic in the area will be temporarily halted.

Following Beijing's announcement of live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait, the Biden administration tried Friday to defuse heated Chinese warnings against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's possible trip to Taiwan.

On his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, commenting on a trip by Pelosi to Taiwan, ramblingly said that President Joe Biden made it clear to his counterpart Xi Jinping during Thursday's phone call that the US "strongly opposes any unilateral efforts" to change the status quo on Taiwan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow hopes for no provocations against Beijing on the Taiwan issue, urging the US to remain committed to the One China policy.

Beijing's Foreign Ministry has reiterated on numerous occasions that the one-China principle was a political foundation of US-Sino relations, explaining that the US violated its own obligations and has been jeopardizing bilateral cooperation, as well as peace and stability in the region.