BEIJING: The United States will "pay the price" if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan during her Asia trip, China warned on Tuesday, as tensions between the two superpowers continued to soar.
Tensions have been escalating over Pelosi's visit, who arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday as part of the second leg of her Indo-Pacific tour, according to The Strait Times.
Read also: US: California governor declares Monkeypox emergency
Beijing views Pelosi's visit as a provocation and has issued increasingly severe warnings that have not ruled out a military response.
"What I can tell you is, the US will definitely have to bear responsibility and pay the price for harming China's sovereignty and security interests," foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told a press briefing in Beijing adding that China will take "firm and powerful" measures in response.
"If the US misjudges or handles the situation across the Taiwan Strait incorrectly, it will have catastrophic consequences for the security, prosperity and order of the Taiwan region and the world at large," she said as quoted by The Strait Times.
Read also: US kills Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in drone strike
Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan today, as per reports. She is going to Taiwan with scheduled meetings with government officials at the self-governed island that China threatens to forcefully takeover.
On Monday, China reiterated that it is keeping a close watch on the reports of Pelosi's planned visit and warned of a resolute response and strong countermeasure if she insists on going ahead with the visit to Taipei. (with ANI inputs)
