A Biden administration official detailed possible retaliatory actions that the Chinese military could conduct if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visits Taiwan during her trip across Asia.
John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator of strategic communications, told reporters on Monday that China could fire missiles in the Taiwan Strait, conduct a large-scale air entry into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, or conduct military exercises in response to a visit from the speaker. Kirby didn’t confirm that Pelosi is traveling to Taiwan, and it hasn’t been listed on her trip itinerary.
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“China appears to be positioning itself to potentially take further steps in the coming days and perhaps over longer time horizons,” he said. “These potential steps from China could include military provocations, such as firing missiles in the Taiwan Strait or around Taiwan, operations that break historical norms such as large-scale air entry into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.”
The Biden administration and Department of Defense officials have repeatedly said they wouldn’t tell Pelosi not to go, but President Joe Biden did say last month that the military was against it. DOD officials have said they’ll do whatever’s necessary for her security if the visit occurs.
Kirby also reiterated that Pelosi’s trip is not indicative of a change in U.S. policy toward China. She has already landed in Singapore and is set to visit Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. The United States recognizes China’s claim that Taiwan is its territory despite arming Taiwan, the island nation of 24 million that declares itself independent. The U.S. also promotes a theory of strategic ambiguity, which means it will keep its responses to a possible invasion a secret so that China can’t plan for a response.
Chinese government and media officials have issued stronger than usual statements condemning a possible visit by Pelosi.
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“The U.S. … must not arrange for Pelosi to visit the Taiwan region,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Col. Tan Kefei said last week. “Should the U.S. side insist on doing otherwise, the Chinese military will never sit idl[y] by and will certainly take strong and resolute measures to thwart any interference by external forces and secessionist attempts for ‘Taiwan independence’ and firmly defend China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Kirby called the comments “unnecessary and uncalled for,” adding, “And there’s no trip to speak to, and rhetoric of that kind only escalates tensions. … So we find that unhelpful and, certainly, not in the least necessary, given the situation.”
