China warns it will ‘resolutely defend national sovereignty’ as tensions rise over Taiwan | UK News

China warned it would “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity” as tensions rise over Taiwan, amid rumors of a US visit to the self-ruled island.

Air force spokesman Shen Jinke was quoted by state media as saying at a military exhibition that the air force has a wide range of fighter jets capable of flying around “the precious island of the earth.” our mother”.

It comes as speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi confirmed she will visit four Asian countries this week, but did not mention can stop in Taiwan.

She will be the highest-ranking US politician to visit the island, China declared part of the People’s Republic, since 1997.

Rumors of the visit sent shockwaves through Beijing, which claims the island as its own territory. China sees contact between US and Taiwanese officials as an incentive to make its decades-old de facto independence permanent.

In a tense phone call on ThursdayChinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Joe Biden that Washington should adhere to the one China principle and that “those who play with fire will perish by it”.

“The Air Force has a steadfast will, complete confidence and capacity to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Shen said on Sunday.

Beijing has issued escalating warnings about the consequences if Ms. Pelosi – a top Democrat like Mr. Biden – visits. Taiwansaid they are facing growing economic and military threats from China.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday said the United States had seen no evidence of Chinese military activity against Taiwan.

Pelosi confirmed she will visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and democratic governance.

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Biden discourages visit to Pelosi

Mr. Biden’s team is also said to have prevented Ms. Pelosi from leaving.

Last week, he told reporters that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea”.

Beijing has not ruled out military action if the speaker makes her visit. It also repeatedly threatened a forced annexation of the island.

During her decades-long congressional career, Ms. Pelosi has repeatedly criticized China for its human rights record, among other things.