Beijing is trying to prevent the visit of the American delegation at any cost.
China sharply warned the administration of the US president through the upcoming trip to Taiwan by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi – reports the Financial Times with reference to its own sources.
The threats came through unofficial channels and caused alarm among White House officials who oppose Pelosi's visit.
China has previously publicly threatened “harsh measures” if Pelosi does not abandon the planned visit in August. China's latest messages have a sharper and more threatening nature. And, according to sources, the private rhetoric has now gone even further, suggesting a possible military response.
There is currently no clear understanding of exactly what Beijing is going to do in response to Pelosi's visit. It is believed that the Chinese military will try to block the landing of the American delegation in Taiwan or use fighter jets to intercept its plane.
According to a number of sources, the White House is trying to assess the level of seriousness of the threats to Beijing, because perhaps China is simply bluffing, trying to force Pelos to abandon the trip.
The publication's sources report that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other high-ranking officials of the National Security Council oppose the visit. But they refused to comment on this information. The head of the Council's strategic communications department John Kirby said only that they provided “context, facts and geopolitical information” and the speaker made her own decision.
Washington's allies, in turn, are concerned that , that the visit of Pelosicould trigger a crisis between the US and China.
This week Biden said he plans to hold a conversation with Xi Jinping by the end of the month. Leaders to discuss Taiwan.
Controversy surrounding Pelosi's trip began after the Financial Times learned she plans to visit Taiwan.
The visit is intended to demonstrate support for Taiwan from the side of the United States, which, against the background of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is under increasing pressure from China, and the United States fears Beijing's military intervention.
The selected time of the visit adds to the piquancy of the situation. First, it coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. Second, it coincides with the annual meeting of the Communist Party Presidium in the coastal resort of Beidaihe, where power is shared.
The party leadership meeting is particularly important this year, as Xi Jinping is set to get engaged. support of comrades before the elections of the head of the Communist Party, which will be held in the fall.
According to the publication's sources, China mistakenly believes that the White House has complete control over this visit, since Pelosi and Biden are of the same party. And Pelosi, as a representative of Congress, is independent of the president and cannot block her travel.
Pelosi was briefed by the Pentagon on the scenarios during her visit to Taipei. After which Biden told reporters, “the military doesn't think it's a good idea right now.”
At a press conference the next day, Pelosi said that Biden did not express any concerns about her trip, only warned of possible consequences. or something like that. It sounds anecdotal to me and I haven't heard about it personally from the president,” she said.
Pelosi's office did not respond to reporters' inquiries about the possibility of canceling her trip.
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Sources briefed on national security affairs in Taiwan see the risk of a military response from China to Pelosi's visit as high.
“Before the gangster was wearing a suit, now he has a knife,” said a high-ranking Taiwanese official.
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We remind you that the US fears that the visit Pelosi's visit to Taiwan will fail due to the incursion of Chinese fighter jets into the island's airspace.
