Biden and Xi speak on the phone amid increased tension over a possible visit by Pelosi to Taiwan

MADRID, 28 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone this Thursday with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, amid tensions over a possible visit by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan.

Biden indicated last week that the US military does not consider Pelosi's visit to be a good idea, while Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei warned that the Chinese military will not sit idly by in the face of possible visit of a US representative to the island.

China considers Taiwan a rogue province, despite the fact that the island has declared its independence and has the support of the United States and the EU. In this context, Pelosi's possible visit, which could take place in August, would have a historic scope because she would be the first president of the Lower House of the United States Congress to travel to Taiwan since Republican Newt Gingrich in 1997.

During the exchange between Biden and Xi, which has lasted around two hours, according to the US network CNN, both have discussed, in what is their fifth conversation since February 2021, a variety of topics, from the tensions surrounding to Taiwan to economic competition and the war in Ukraine.

Another hot spot is the recent entry of the US Navy aircraft carrier 'USS Ronald Reagan' into the waters of the South China Sea, which has caused unrest in Beijing. In fact, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, said on Thursday that this action by Washington is just a way of "showing muscle".

"We can clearly see who is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific region," Lijian said, adding again, at another point in the press conference, that Beijing is "strongly" opposes Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

"If the United States insists on going its own way, the Chinese military will never stand idly by and take strong action to thwart any attempts by outside forces to interfere and achieve 'Taiwan independence,'" he said.

Prior to the call, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration seeks to "keep open lines of communication with China and cooperate on issues where there is common ground," while trying to improve areas where there is tension.

"I would expect tensions in the South China Sea to be mediated as part of the president's conversation," Kirby said Wednesday, adding that Biden would reaffirm that there is no change in the US commitment to the 'One only China'.