China’s warns it could shoot down Pelosi’s plane if she visits Taiwan escorted by US military…
In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric as relations between the two countries deteriorate, a Chinese government propagandist warned on Friday that Beijing could shoot down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane if it is escorted by US military aircraft during a planned visit to Taiwan in August.
Hu Xijin, a columnist for the Global Times under the authority of the Chinese Communist Party, tweeted that if US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it would be an invasion. The [People’s Liberation Army] has the authority to shoot warning shots and manoeuvre strategically to obstruct US fighter jets as well as Pelosi’s plane forcibly.
Hu Xijing, a writer for the state-run Global Times, tweeted in reaction to a CNN report claiming that Pelosi plans to go for Asia on Friday: “If US fighter planes escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion.” “The [Chinese Army] has the authority to physically remove Pelosi’s aircraft and the US fighter fighters, including by firing warning shots and putting up defensive barriers. If it doesn’t work, shoot them down.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Pelosi’s tour schedule, Chinese officials have recently repeatedly warned her against stopping in Taiwan with oblique warnings of military action.
Tan Kefei, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, stated earlier this week that Speaker Pelosi’s journey to Taiwan would “seriously violate the one-China principle and the conditions in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
However, no member of the Chinese government has expressly stated that they will shoot down Pelosi’s plane if she visits. Hu’s tweet was nonetheless covered in various media sources on Friday as if it were a direct threat.
Hu’s warning was met with a “hypothetical” response from the White House, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre said, “We’re just not going to talk on her schedule. “As we have repeatedly stated, we provide advice and guidance to any members of Congress where they travel — to the region they travel to, whether a — advice on [the] geopolitical situation in the region or in the country, and any potential national security issues, but once again, I’m not going to speak to a hypothetical.”
