China warned that it will “resolutely protect national sovereignty and territory integrity” in the face of rising tensions over Taiwan amid rumours of an American visit to the island.

State media quoted Shen Jinke, a spokesperson for the Air Force, as saying that at a military airshow, the air force had many types of fighter planes capable of circumnavigating “the precious island in our motherland”.

It was announced by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she will be visiting four Asian countries this week. However, there was no mention of a possible stop in Taiwan .

She would be the US’s highest-ranking politician to visit the island China has claimed as its People’s Republic since 1997.

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Beijing has been furious at the rumours about the visit. It claims that the island is its territory. China views contact between Taiwan officials and the United States as a way to encourage Taiwan’s decades-old de facto independence.

On Thursday in a tense telephone call, the Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Joe Biden that Washington must abide by “the one-China principle” and that those who play with fire would die.

Shen stated Sunday that the air force had the firm will, full trust and sufficient capabilities to defend national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity.

Beijing has issued escalating warnings regarding repercussions if Ms Pelosi – a leading Democrat, like Mr Biden – visits Taiwan. It says it is facing increasing Chinese economic and military threats.

John Kirby, White House spokesperson for national security, stated that the United States has not seen any evidence of China’s military activity against Taiwan.

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

Continue reading: Nancy Pelosi’s ill-timed Taiwan visit could have caused China and the US to quietly enter a crisis

During a two-hour conversation between Xi Jinping and Biden, China warned the US not to play with fire’ over Taiwan

Biden discouraged Pelosi visit

It is believed that Ms. Pelosi was discouraged by Mr Biden’s team.

He told reporters last week that the military didn’t think it was a good idea.

Beijing is open to military action, even if the speaker makes her visit. It has also repeatedly threatened to annex the island.

Ms. Pelosi has been critical of China’s human rights record over her long career in Congress.