China’s government warned on Tuesday that it would take “forceful measures” if US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, after the Financial TimesPelosi and her delegation will also visit Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, and spend time in Hawaii at the headquarters of US Indo-Pacific command, the London newspaper added, citing people familiar with the matter.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, asked about China’s reaction, said: “I believe the foreign ministry was weighing in on a hypothetical. That is something that I will hesitate doing here”. Pelosi, a long-time critic of China, held an online meeting with Taiwanese Vice President William Lai in January as he wrapped up a visit to the United States and Honduras.The White House had expressed concern about the Pelosi trip, the Financial Times said, citing three people familiar with the situation.
A spokesperson for the US National Security Council would not comment on “travel that the Speaker’s office itself has not announced”, and reiterated that the United States remains committed to its One China policy.