TAIPEI: China advised of “ strong measures” on Thursday if US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan following media reports of a forthcoming trip.
Japanese and Taiwanese media on Thursday reported that Pelosi would visit Taiwan coming week, after leading a delegation to Japan this weekend.
Neither Taiwan nor Pelosi’s office has verified the reports but Beijing — which opposes countries having relations with Taipei — spoke out against the implicit visit.
“ The US should abide by the One-China policy and. and incontinently cancel Nancy Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan,” foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told journalists. “ China will take strong measures in response to defend its public security and integrity,” Zhao added.
Also Read: TAIWAN A FLASHPOINT IN U.S CHINA RIVALRY
A visit by Pelosi would be diplomatically significant for Taipei but not unknown. Newt Gingrich visited Taiwan in 1997 when he was a speaker of the House of Representatives.
China’s Communist Party has noway controlled tone- ruled Taiwan but it nevertheless views the islet as part of its home and has pledged to one day seize it, by force if demanded. Beijing’s smallsword-rattling has increased significantly under President Xi Jinping, prodding political support for Taipei and visits from western nations shaken by China’s more muscular tone.
