The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group in the South China Sea amid rising tensions over Taiwan.
Although news reports quoted Commander Hayley Sims as saying it was a routine mission, the deployment follows a Global Times report that PLA planes could shadow US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane should she visit Taiwan.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, about to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, has not confirmed whether she will visit Taiwan or not.
China considers Taiwan its territory, but the latter has independent diplomatic relations with some countries and even a defense pact with the United States.
Heightened Rhetoric
‘Those who play with fire will perish by the fire,’ the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted President Xi Jinping from his phone conversation with US President Joe Biden. The White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refused to address the specific comment during a press conference.
President Biden said the US strongly opposes any attempts to change the status of Taiwan unilaterally, the White House said.
Ms. Jean-Pierre said the 2 hours, 20-minute conversation between the leaders focused on keeping the lines of conversation open and working together on climate change and fighting narcotics. She said President Biden raised the issues of forced labor practices and human rights.