Pelosi Trip Could Escalate Tensions In The Taiwan Strait 

China has threatened to take “strong measures” if Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan and US security experts warn the trip may escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Intelligence sources say the threats have been significantly strengthened and are now much more intimidating than anything China has sent out before.

China says it will take action if  Pelosi proceeds with the planned visit in August, but they have expressed more opposition in private. The private rhetoric went even further than the strong opposition by suggesting a possible military response.

The White House is trying to figure out whether China is attempting to pressure Pelosi by making threats or if this is brinkmanship.

This threat comes as the number of warplanes seen in Taiwan’s air space has increased since Biden took office. The US has also threatened to intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan.

Beijing has not disclosed their potential responses. It is possible that they would attempt to block Pelosi from landing in Taiwan, or block her visit in some other way.

The US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and other senior National Security Council officials oppose the trip, because they believe it would escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Biden told reporters that the US Military thinks Pelosi shouldn’t go to Taiwan as of now. The US Military’s stance is simply explained as being due to the risks involved with such a trip.

Speaker Pelosi is the most senior US politician to visit Taiwan in about 20 years. Beijing opposes any moves that confer legitimacy on Taiwan as an independent country, or establish a formal US relationship.

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