Taiwan threatens to shoot down Pelosi’s plane if…

When Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, a commentator for the Chinese government-controlled state media outlet “Global Times” has threatened that China may shoot her plane out of the sky.

“It is invasion if US fighter jets accompany Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan. The PLA is authorized to shoot warning shots and move strategically to obstruct the US fighter jets as well as Pelosi’s aircraft. Hu Xijin advised, “Shoot them down if ineffective.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to depart for a tour of Asia today, though whether she'll make a high-stakes stop in Taiwan remains uncertain https://t.co/nFURv15dyv

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 29, 2022

If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion. The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down. https://t.co/V7LhrXgXoM

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) July 29, 2022

CNN reported.

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the house, intends to travel to Asia on Friday, though it’s unclear if she’ll stop in Taiwan, according to a source familiar with her plans.

Pelosi will make stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and these other US regional allies.

Though China has issued warnings about the House speaker making a potential visit and US-China relations are at an all-time low, a drop-in to independently governed Taiwan was still only tentative.

A delegation of other lawmakers is traveling with Pelosi. She has steadfastly declined to speak to reporters about her plans, responding on Wednesday to a query about a potential trip to Taiwan with the statement, “I never talk about my travel. For me, it’s dangerous.

As US officials worry about an impending Chinese move on the autonomous island of Taiwan, Taiwan has become a significant source of tension between the US and China. During a highly sensitive time, national security officials have quietly tried to persuade Pelosi of the dangers her potential trip to Taiwan could pose.

President Joe Biden received a stern warning regarding the matter from Chinese President Xi Jinping during a lengthy and open phone call on Thursday.

 

Public opinion must not be disregarded, and playing with fire results in injury. He addressed the president, saying, “I hope the US side can see this clearly.

The announcement that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will visit Taiwan next month has sparked a hostile response from the Chinese government this month.

The Financial Times reported that Pelosi will visit Taiwan as part of a regional tour of Asia that also includes stops in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded, “If the U.S. side stubbornly sticks to this course, China will definitely take resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He declared, “The United States must bear full responsibility for all effects caused by this.”

#China urges that #US must not arrange House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, stop official exchange with #Taiwan, and stop creating tensions over the Taiwan Straits, or China will take forceful countermeasures: Chinese Foreign Ministry pic.twitter.com/qc4Xl0fS8H

— Zhang Meifang (@CGMeifangZhang) July 19, 2022

According to The Washington Post, the Speaker’s visit to Taiwan would “gravely harm” China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and “seriously impact the political foundations of China-U.S. relations.”

According to The Western Journal,

After losing the Chinese civil war to Mao Zedong and the Communists in 1949, the Nationalist government of China sought refuge on the island off the coast of China.

Despite not formally recognizing Taiwan’s government, the US maintains that no status quo changes should occur. China has become more assertive toward Taiwan under the direction of Xi Jinping, arguing that the island should be governed as though it were an integral part of China. Increased military activity has resulted from this near Taiwan.

According to reports, the Biden administration is worried about Pelosi’s trip because it coincides with China’s celebration of the People’s Liberation Army’s founding anniversary on August 1.

The announced trip also comes a day after Beijing asked Washington to halt providing the island democracy with $108 million in military-technical assistance.

"We won’t have a blind eye on #China’s threats to Taiwan. Europe was late for hk, we won't be late for #Taiwan. There is no room for Chinese aggression in democratic Taiwan," European Parliament vice president Nicola Beer said after arriving in Taiwan for a three-day visit. pic.twitter.com/HuTVhMtTNp

— Amber Wang (@ambermywang) July 19, 2022

Taiwan came up in June when Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe also warned the United States, according to The Washington Post.

“Some Americans work tirelessly to repress China. We will fight until the very end if you want a confrontation,” Wei said. “If China is forced into a war, the military will not back down.”

 

The People’s Liberation Army has faced off against numerous formidable foes and prevailed on numerous occasions. We don’t start trouble, but if someone does, we won’t back down. We won’t bully people, but we also won’t let them bully us, he declared.

It is unclear which battles and victories he is referring to given that the nation has not engaged in significant combat since its bloody and expensive three-week war with Vietnam in 1979.

Then, Wei’s focus shifted to the United States.

“China won’t act like a bully. We can all see who the bully is with clarity. To be clear, we will fight if anyone attempts to separate Taiwan from China. He vowed, “We will fight until the bitter end, at all costs.

He added that China must play a commanding, if not dominant, role in the world.

China’s development has a long history. Trying to stop it is neither feasible nor wise, he said.