In light of reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may visit Taiwan on Friday, China issued its strongest threat yet, stating that they would not rule out taking down the speaker's plane if it were to be escorted by US fighters.

China has issued not-so-subtle warnings against the speaker, whom China has reasoned is third in line in the US administration, from visiting Taiwan, warning the US against crossing a "red line" in its relations with Taiwan.

China Reminds US of Consequences if Pelosi Visits Taiwan

Zhao Lijian, the foreign minister of China, warned in a conference on Friday that if Pelosi decides to visit Taiwan the US must be ready to "carry all consequences." According to National Security Spokesman John Kirby, the Pentagon has not detected any signs of a military threat as of Friday.

"It is invasion if US fighter planes accompany Pelosi's plane into Taiwan. If ineffectual, then shoot them down," Hu Xijin, a pundit for the Chinese state-affiliated Global Times, said on Twitter, as per Daily Mail.

The speaker's trip to Asia, which also includes stops in Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and South Africa, has not yet indicated if she will travel to the island democracy. On Friday, Pelosi was asked about a probable trip to Taiwan. She merely responded, "I don't discuss about my travel because it's a security concern."

However, with the Chinese military keeping an eye on the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier's movements in the South China Sea, tensions have risen over the possibility. On Monday, the Reagan departed Singapore for the South China Sea with its strike group.

Read Also: China's Xi Jinping Warns Joe Biden, US Over Taiwan Conflict: "If You Play with Fire You Get Burned"

US Lawmakers Hits Back at China's Warnings

Pelosi left on Friday for an Asian tour that may include a contentious stop in Taiwan, the independent island nation that is at the center of escalating hostilities between Beijing and Washington. Leading China analysts have expressed concern that Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, aboard a military plane, increases the possibility of a "accident" that may lead to a military conflict in the area.

Pelosi would be the highest-ranking US member to travel to Taiwan in more than 20 years, according to Insider. Taiwan is an island democracy with a population of 23 million, and its leaders, who also oppress democratic Hong Kong, have long had their sights set on Taiwan.

Beijing has reacted angrily and issued threats in response to Pelosi's potential visit, and there are indications that the Pentagon is preparing to possibly employ US airplanes and ships to bolster security near Taiwan in the event that Pelosi does make the trip. Additionally, the Biden administration's repeated ambiguous statements about whether the US would use force if China attacked Taiwan may be contributing to the escalating hostilities between Beijing and Washington.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, cautioned that if China has learned any lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing ought to stand down. Per Daily Beast, US legislators had their own warning for China and President Xi Jinping: "Don't mess with us."

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, believes that China should know better than to attack Taiwan or carry out any "forceful" military retaliation to Pelosi's visit.

Related Article: Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan Visit Leads Pentagon Scrambling for Security Plan; Ships, Aircrafts To Be Deployed?

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