China’s President Xi Jinping warned Joe Biden ‘those who play with fire will get burned’ during a two-hour call Thursday morning amid rising tensions over Taiwan, according to Chinese state media.
The fifth call between the world leaders since President Biden took office comes amid simmering tensions and a potential impending visit to Taiwan from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The last time Biden and Xi last spoke was in March of this year – shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The White House has not yet released a read out of the call Thursday morning.
But Chinese state media released some excerpts from the call, including Xi telling Biden: ‘Those who play with fire will only get burnt. Hope the U.S. side can see this clearly.’
The leader of the People’s Republic of China also said he firmly opposes Taiwan independence and the interference of external forces.
U.S. military leaders warn of the emerging threat from China and claim that Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan could cause ripple effects.
President Joe Biden (right) will call Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) Thursday morning at 8:30 for the fifth call between the two leaders since Biden took office
The call comes as Taiwan ramps up its largest ever military drills while neighboring China isn’t pleased with prospective visit to the island by House Nancy Pelosi. Pictured: Taiwanese navy launches a US-made Standard missile from a frigate during the annual Han Kuang Drill, on the sea near the Suao navy harbor in Yilan county on July 2
Self-governed Taiwan’s 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by authoritarian China, which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary
Taiwan has been ramping up its largest ever military drills as its giant neighbor China bristles over a prospective visit to the island by Speaker Pelosi.
Tensions have been rising recently as Beijing has issued escalating warnings about repercussions should Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan go ahead.
The South China Morning Post reported that Taiwan would have to ‘bear the wrath of Beijing’ should the visit go forward. Beijing is likely to ramp up military pressure on the island during Pelosi’s time there.
‘Possible action includes sending multiple warplanes across the median line that separates the Taiwan Strait,’ said Chieh Chung, a senior researcher at the National Policy Foundation think tank, noting that this happened when former US undersecretary of state Keith Krach visited Taiwan in 2020.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to travel to Taiwan, but does travel to Taiwan, but reports warn that the island will ‘bear the wrath of Beijing’ should the visit go forward
When asked Wednesday about the upcoming trip and whether she plans to go forward with making it, Pelosi said she wouldn’t comment on her movements for security reasons.
Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries reiterated this point Wednesday.
‘The Speaker does not comment on her travel plans for a variety of reasons, including security, and neither will I,’ he told reporters.
Beijing says that it would view Pelosi’s visit as a provocation.
While the island of Taiwan governs itself, China considers it part of its territory – leading to heightened tensions in an area already strained by conflict.
National Security Council Spokesperson and former Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said it’s important for Biden to connect with Xi on a regularly basis.
‘The president wants to make sure that the lines of communication with President Xi remain open because they need to,’ Kirby told reporters during the White House briefing Wednesday.
‘There are issues where we can cooperate with China on, and there are issues where obviously there are friction and tension.’
Kirby added: ‘This is one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world today, with ramifications well beyond both individual countries.’
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said over the weekend that China has become significantly more aggressive and a bigger threat to the U.S. and its allies over the last five years.
‘The message is the Chinese military, in the air and at sea, have become significantly more and noticeably more aggressive in this particular region,’ Milley said during a stop in Indonesia on Sunday.
General Milley, during a trip to the Indo-Pacific, said Sunday that the number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the region has increased significantly in the last half decade.
He also said the number of unsafe interactions by China against the U.S. and other partner forces has risen by similar proportions.
The U.S. is doubling down on its efforts to strengthen its relationships with Pacific nations as a counterbalance to China as it tries to expand its presence and influence.
The Biden administration considers China its ‘pacing threat’ and America’s primary long-term security challenge – and Milley’s trip to the region was sharply focused on the threat coming from China.