Biden administration national security spokesperson John Kirby on Monday declared that the United States does not support Taiwan independence as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) plans to travel to the country in the face of threats by mainland Communist China.
“We’ve repeatedly said that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We’ve said that we do not support Taiwan independence, and we have said that we expect cross trade differences to be resolved by peaceful means,” Kirby said during a press briefing at the White House.
Kirby: "We do not support Taiwan independence." pic.twitter.com/ynEEqNmqXW
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 1, 2022
The national security spokesperson also appeared to signal support for the House Speakers trip, noting that “the Speaker has a right to visit Taiwan” and has done so in the past.
“We have no interesting…of increasing tensions here. We have no interest in changing any approach that we take as a government or in keeping with our allies and partners to wanting to see cross straight tensions be resolved peacefully without a unilateral change,” said Kirby.
“Everything here is consistent. There’s no reason to use a potential visit to justify or spark some sort of crisis or conflict. We certainly have no interest in that and there’s no justification to use a potential visit as a pretext to conduct what could be escalatory measures,” he added.
John Kirby on Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan:
"I don't know about the drama you're claiming exists … There is no reason to use a potential visit to justify or to spark some kind of crisis or conflict." pic.twitter.com/77cph37Gp2
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 1, 2022
Kirby’s remarks come shortly after Chinese president Xi Jinping reportedly threatened Joe Biden, warning the 79-year-old that “those who play with fire will perish by it” during a phone call in regard to Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Taiwan.
“China firmly opposes separatist moves toward “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, and never allows any room for ‘Taiwan independence’ forces in whatever form,” Chinese state propaganda media quoted Xi as stating over the weekend. “The position of the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan question is consistent, and resolutely safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the firm will of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. The public opinion cannot be defied.”
“Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this,” the Chinese president reportedly stated. “The US should honor the one-China principle and implement the three joint communiques both in word and in deed.”
According to Chinese state media, Biden “reiterated that the one-China policy of the US has not changed and will not change, and that the US does not support “Taiwan independence.’”
