Conflict with Taiwan – China now warns US of “serious consequences”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the Beijing press on Monday that such a visit would amount to “blatant interference in China’s internal affairs”. “The Chinese side is fully prepared for any eventuality,” Zhao said of speculation that Pelosi could also visit Taiwan this week as part of her Asia trip.

“The People’s Liberation Army will not stand by and the Chinese side will certainly take strong and decisive action to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Does a visit allow conflicts to slip away?
Pelosi began her Asia trip Monday at the head of a US Congressional delegation. To begin with, she met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore. Visits to Malaysia, South Korea and Japan are also on the schedule. Taiwan is not mentioned in the official itinerary of the trip. Still, there has been speculation recently that this could happen.

After a visit to Malaysia, she is expected in Seoul on Thursday, which suggests that she may first make a stopover in Taiwan. US broadcaster CNN, citing a Taiwanese and US government official, reported that a visit to Taiwan was “expected”. The Pentagon is monitoring Chinese movements and is working “around the clock” on plans for the senior politician’s security.

Pelosi harsh critic of China
Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng Chang dodged a clear answer on Monday about whether Pelosi would come to Taiwan on Thursday. “We always welcome visits to our country from highly decorated foreign guests,” he told reporters in the capital Taipei.

Pelosi has long been a harsh critic of China. As Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Democrat is the third highest-ranking US representative after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In 1997, Republican Newt Gingrich was the last Speaker of the US House of Representatives to visit Taiwan.

Sign against threats from Beijing
Democrat Pelosi has long planned to visit free Taiwan to take a stand against threats from Beijing. However, Biden had also reacted cautiously to the reported visitation plans, saying the US military didn’t think it was a good idea at this point. Tensions around Taiwan have not been this high since the 1990s.

“Whoever plays with fire will die in it”
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently asked Biden to recognize Beijing’s one-China principle, adding, “Those who play with fire will die in it.” China vs Taiwan. In the past, China has repeatedly underscored its claim with maneuvers near the island.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has fueled fears that China could take the island’s democratic republic by force in a similar manner. Chinese leader Xi considers it his mission to achieve “unification” and threatens military conquest.

United States Committed to Defense
The United States, in turn, has committed itself to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself – which has so far mainly resulted in arms shipments. However, President Biden has gone further than his predecessors, repeatedly calling it a US “obligation” to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China.

A war over industrially developed Taiwan – the world’s 22nd largest economy – would have serious consequences for the global economy. Taiwan is important in the world in the production of semiconductors. These can be found almost everywhere these days, for example in smartphones, computers, cars or medical devices. A shortage had led to price hikes and supply chain problems in many industries during the corona pandemic. Taiwanese companies in particular have large production capacities.