In a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website after the two leaders spoke on Thursday, Xi did not directly mention Pelosi’s possible visit, but said his government “will resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” . “Those who play with fire will perish by it. We hope the US will be clear-eyed about this,” the Chinese president added. China’s foreign ministry also reported that Biden said Washington’s one-China policy had not changed and that his administration did not support the independence of the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. In its own account of the call, the White House also avoided mentioning Pelosi’s possible visit. However, Biden “stressed that the policy of the United States has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” He added that the call lasted more than two hours, with Biden and Xi discussing a range of topics and that the leaders asked their teams to follow up on issues covered in the conversation, particularly climate change and health security. The call was the leaders’ first since March, when tensions were also high following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Xi met Vladimir Putin shortly before the Russian president sent his army into Ukraine and has tacitly supported Moscow throughout the conflict. Beijing sees trips to Taiwan by US lawmakers as a violation of Washington’s “one China” policy, which recognizes Beijing as China’s sole government. Pelosi would be the most senior US lawmaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Pelosi’s plans earlier this year to visit Taiwan were postponed when she contracted Covid-19. Her office has yet to confirm dates for her August trip, which Biden said had raised concerns among US military commanders. “China’s relations with the US are very bad in all respects,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. He added that the People’s Liberation Army was likely to take “necessary countermeasures” if Pelosi continued her trip, but said China would continue to seek to “avoid full and direct military confrontation with the US.” The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan transited the South China Sea earlier this month before docking in Singapore on July 22. It then canceled a planned port visit to Vietnam before sailing back to the disputed sea, where China is embroiled in a series of long-running territorial disputes with its maritime neighbours. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, on Wednesday reiterated Beijing’s “firm opposition” to Pelosi’s possible trip to Taiwan. “If the US side insists on the visit and challenges China’s red line, it will be met with resolute countermeasures,” Zhao said. “The US must take full responsibility for any serious consequences.” Wen-Ti Sung, a China expert at the Australian National University, said Beijing’s stance before Thursday’s call was “tough, but far from the toughest”, likely reflecting that the Chinese Communist Party leadership was still to decide how to react if Pelosi does not cancel the visit. Taiwanese officials worry that any Chinese countermeasures would likely be directed against the island. But they also fear Xi will be emboldened if Pelosi postpones or cancels her trip. “[Taiwan and the US] I don’t want to show weakness,” said one Asian diplomat, who asked not to be named. “I don’t think there is anyone who wants to be dictated to by Beijing.” The planned visit also comes at a difficult time for Xi, who is preparing for a five-day party congress in the coming months in which he is expected to secure an unprecedented third term as head of the party, state and military. Additional reporting by Xinning Liu and Maiqi Ding in Beijing
