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The White House said Monday that China was seemingly laying the groundwork to carry out «military provocations» in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan.
«China appears to be positioning itself to potentially take further steps in the coming days and perhaps over longer time horizons,» White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
He cast the escalating tensions as fueled by China, which the U.S. was «not threatening,» and he insisted that a potential visit from Pelosi would have precedent and would not «change the status quo» regarding China and Taiwan.
Under the «One China» policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as China’s government and does not support an independent Taiwan, considering the matter «unsettled,» though the U.S. is militarily supportive of the self-governing island and maintains informal ties.
«We, and countries around the world, believe escalation serves no one,» Kirby said. «Beijing’s actions could have unintended consequences that only serve to increase tensions.»
«The world should reject any [Chinese] effort to use it to do so,» Kirby said, referring to a possible Pelosi appearance in Taiwan. «We will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling. At the same time, we will not be intimated.
