China has threatened to take "resolute and powerful actions" if Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visits Taiwan.
According to the Financial Times, Pelosi, who is second in line to become US president, has allegedly announced intentions to lead a group to Taipei in August. If she goes, it will be the highest-level US mission to the autonomous island in 25 years.
The possible visit was denounced by China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, July 19, who claimed it would "have a significant negative influence on the political foundation of China-US ties and send a fundamentally erroneous signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist elements."
Zhao Lijian, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said at a press conference that "if the US maintains on taking the wrong course, China will undoubtedly take decisive and robust actions to resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity." "The United States must bear full responsibility for the effects this has on society."
In addition, the People's Liberation Army of China celebrates its foundation anniversary on August 1.
Although it hasn't ruled the area in 70 years, Beijing's governing Communist Party has long claimed Taiwan as part of its territory and has frequently pledged to "reunify" the island's 24 million residents with the Chinese mainland by force, if necessary.
Prior to her positive Covid-19 test, Pelosi had announced intentions to lead a legislative delegation from the US to Taiwan in April. China had vehemently opposed the trip at the time and had sent similar threats.
Pelosi's trip would be the first time a sitting House Speaker has visited Taiwan since Republican Newt Gingrich went there in 1997.
Since the Taiwan Travel Act was enacted in March 2018 by then-US President Donald Trump, US officials and politicians have visited the democratically run island more than 20 times.
As tensions reached their greatest point in recent decades, China, meanwhile, dispatched a record number of warplanes to the area near Taiwan.
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