Biden said this week's call with Xi Jinping, many Republicans support Pelosi's visit to Taiwan
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday (July 25) that he expected to have a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, but the exact date was yet to be confirmed. Asked by reporters if the long-awaited call would take place this week, Biden said: "That's my expectation, but I'll let you know when it's scheduled."
China and the United States are straining bilateral relations over Taiwan, Ukraine and technological competition as Xi and Biden prepare to call, Agence France-Presse said in a report.
On the same day, the Chinese government once again made a stern response to the possible trip of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China has repeatedly expressed its serious concerns and solemn position to the United States that it firmly opposes Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. He said, "We are standing by. If the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will take firm and powerful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the U.S. should be responsible for all serious consequences."
According to previous reports by multiple media, national security officials of the U.S. military and the U.S. federal government have expressed their disapproval of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan at this point in time, and Pelosi himself has not publicly confirmed whether he will visit Taiwan as reported by the media. But she also reiterated last week that it is important for the United States to show support for Taiwan, but also denied that the U.S. Congress supports Taiwan's independence.
Several Republican lawmakers support Pelosi's trip to Taiwan
Supporting Pelosi's trip to Taiwan includes Republican senators, at least two former Trump administration officials and the last speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who visited Taiwan. They urged Biden to support Pelosi's visit as China threatens to respond forcefully to the trip. The Associated Press analyzed that when calls for Biden to support Pelosi's trip to Taiwan are increasing, it also increases the risk that Biden may be seen as not being tough enough on China.