Pelosus ' visit to Taiwan: How is a geopolitical headache becoming for the US

China has warned of “serious consequences” if Pelosi continues with her visit, the BBC writes.

In the second line of the presidency, after the vice president, Pelosi would become the highest-ranking American official to have travelled to the island since 1997.

This has angered China, which views self-led Taiwan as a divided province that must become part of the country. Beijing has not ruled out the possibility of using force to achieve this.

Even the Biden administration has reportedly tried to discourage the Democrat from California from going there.

Last week, President Joe Biden told reporters that military wisdom is not a good idea, but the White House has described Chinese rhetoric as totally unnecessary against such a journey.

The State Department has said that Pelos has not announced a trip and that the United States' approach to Taiwan remains unchanged.

As the U.S. continues to call it “an informal” relationship with Taiwan, it has formal diplomatic ties with China rather than with Taiwan.

Pelosi's trip, if it happens, would take place at the time of mounting tensions between Washington and Beijing -- and before a phone call warned between American President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jingping.

Why would Pelose want to visit Taiwan?

There is a superparty support for Taiwan between the public and the U.S. Congress.

And during her 35-year career, Pelosi has been a loud critic against China.

It has spread human rights charges, met with pro-democratic dissidents, and also visited Tiananmen Square to commemorate the victims of the 1989 massacre.

Peloss' initial plan was to visit Taiwan in April, but the trip was postponed because it had resulted in positive results with David-19.

She has refused to discuss details about the trip, but had said last week it was the “important to show our support for Taiwan”.

Why does China oppose the visit?

Beijing views Taiwan as its territory, and it has repeatedly repeated the possibility of annexing even vigorously if necessary.

Chinese officials have expressed their nervousness at what they call an increase in diplomatic co-operation between Taipei and Washington. This included a surprise visit by six American lawmakers in April.

On Monday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned that his country “would take strong measures” if Pelos continues on its visit.

“The United States will be responsible for all serious consequences”, he said.

A spokesman from the Chinese Defence Ministry seems to have meant that there might be a military response.

If the American side continues away, the Chinese army would not sit back and take strong measures to prevent any outside interference from separatist efforts for Taiwan's independence, Colonel Tan Kefei told China Daily.

Last week, former Chinese state newspaper editor Global Times suggested that a “military shock response” may be being stored for Pelos.

If Pelos visits Taiwan, fighter planes will accompany Pelosi's plane on entry into the island, marking a historic entrance to the island of a main field fighter for the first time, Hu Xijin wrote.

So far, Washingon's policy of “strategic buffer” meant that the United States has been completely unclear how and if it would protect Taiwan in the event of a major attack on the island. /Periscopi/