Nancy Pelosi set for Asia trip after Chinese leader Xi Jinping warns US not to ‘play with fire’ over Taiwan
- China has repeatedly said the US House Speaker should not visit the island, with one observer suggesting ‘even stronger warnings’ have been given in private
- Pelosi has not confirmed whether she will visit Taiwan, but if she does she will be the highest ranked US official to do so since 1997
About half of the brief Chinese statement issued following the call was devoted to Taiwan, although it did not refer to Pelosi or her possible visit. However, Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a regular press conference that “everyone knows that the call took place against the backdrop of Speaker Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan”.
Pelosi’s team has been tight-lipped about media reports that she would visit the island during the tour, which will include stops in Japan, Indonesia and Singapore.
The tour comes ahead of the symbolically important celebrations to mark the foundation of the Chinese military on Monday – a day when official messaging often emphasises the People’s Liberation Army’s sacrifices to preserve the country’s integrity.