All countries should warn China against going to war with Taiwan – US

China has been warned by the United States not to use any legislative visits to Taiwan as justification for military action against the autonomous island.

In line with its one-China policy, the United States is committed to supporting Taiwan and its capacity to defend itself, according to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. She also said that all nations should urge Beijing to refrain from a fight over the island.

The visit by Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to democratic Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, in August shook up U.S.-China ties.

Since then more U.S. lawmakers has visited Taiwan, and speculation has swirled that Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy, who took over as House speaker in January, could soon visit the island.

“And we hope that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) does not use a visit by a member of Congress to Taiwan as a pretext for military action,” Sherman said.

China stepped up military drills around Taiwan as a result of Pelosi’s visit.

Also, relations between Washington and Beijing deteriorated further this month after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese spy balloon that flew across U.S. territory.

Sherman, the State Department’s second-ranked diplomat, said the Russia-Ukraine war had increased energy and food insecurity for the whole world, as well as inflationary pressures.

“The same would be true of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” Sherman said. “And so, I urge all countries to tell the PRC this affects me. This affects my people, my country. This is not a good idea.”

Sherman said Washington had “growing concern” about China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia and its support for Moscow’s Ukraine invasion.

“But what I would say to all of those who are supporting Russia, you’re going to end up with an albatross around your neck,” Sherman said, adding that the Ukrainians would deliver a strategic failure for Russian President Vladimir Putin.