China Says Nancy Pelosi Visit To Taiwan A 'Malicious Provocation' That Crosses A Red Line, Warns U.S Of Serious Consequences

China will deem the proposed visit to Taiwan by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi as having crossed a red line, and Washington will have to bear the consequences of the trip, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Thursday (Apr 7)

Nancy Pelosi is reportedly arriving in Taiwan on Sunday in a show of solidarity with Taipei amid mounting concerns over cross-strait relations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Pelosi's visit is reportedly planned to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relation Act.

Neither the office of Pelosi nor the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority on the island has confirmed or denied reports of her visit to Taiwan.

"If Pelosi, a political leader of the United States, knowingly visits Taiwan, it would be a malicious provocation against China's sovereignty and gross interference in China's internal affairs, and would send an extremely dangerous political signal to the outside world," Wang said.

"If she does visit, China will take strong measures and the consequences will be borne by the U.S.," Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing, without providing details.

"It (Pelosi's visit) would bring serious damage to the foundation of China-US relations, and would send the wrong messages to the Taiwan secessionists. China firmly opposes it and has already lodged solemn representations to the U.S. "Zhao Lijian added.

Beijing counts the self-governing island as a breakaway province to be returned to mainland control by exercising force if necessary.

Pelosi will arrive in Japan later this week for holding negotiations with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as the two nations seek to enhance coordination of their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The last House speaker to travel to Taipei was Republican Newt Gingrich, who met then-president Lee Teng-hui in 1997. However, Gingrich was a Republican, while Bill Clinton, the then U.S. president, was a Democrat.