In recent times there have been concerns about Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. A Chinese government propagandist said that Beijing could shoot down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan flight during an anticipated August visit to Taiwan.
There has been a dramatic escalation in rhetoric as relations between the two powers get worse and worse.
“If the US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is an invasion”, Hu Xijin tweeted. Hu Xijin is a columnist for the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times.
The [People’s Liberation Army] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movements of obstruction.
“If ineffective, then shoot them down,” Hu added.
Nancy Pelosi was due to depart Friday on a multi-nation tour of Asia and has refused to confirm reports that she will visit the self-governing island in a demonstration of support for Taiwan’s de facto independence.
The speaker went on to tell reporters at a news conference earlier Friday “I don’t ever talk about my travel because as some of you know, it is a security issue.”
Pelosi framed the trip as part of an attempt to involve Congress in the Biden administration’s efforts to establish closer ties between the US and Asia.
Taiwan’s status was addressed when President Biden spoke Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to readouts by both governments.
During the discussion, Xi warned Biden that “those who play with fire will perish by it,” according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry.
Jean-Pierre would not confirm or deny whether the Chinese leader threatened the president, telling a reporter at her briefing Thursday, “I’m not going to speak to that statement, that comment that you just read out.”
