The US congressional delegation to Asia has been postponed after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive for COVID-19.
Following the announcement, China warned that it would take stringent measures if the trip included a trip to Taiwan, as claimed by media reports in the region.
Pelosi's deputy communications director Drew Hamill said in a tweet on Thursday that the planned congressional delegation to Asia, led by Pelosi on a two-week congressional break, would be "postponed to a later date."
"After testing negative this week, President Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic. The president has been fully vaccinated and enhanced, and thanks to the strong protection provided by the vaccine. The president will quarantine in line with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to regularly vaccinate, promote, and get tested," Hamill tweeted.
Some Japanese and Taiwanese media are reporting that Pelosi planned to visit Taiwan later this week after a halt in Japan - though not confirmed by Pelosi's office or Taiwan's government - before Beijing Warned that such a trip would seriously affect China-US. relations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday that China "strongly opposes all forms of official contact between the US and Taiwan" and urged Washington to "immediately cancel Speaker Pelosi's plans to visit Taiwan". Did.
"If the US insists on going its own way, China will take firm and strong steps to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that may arise from this will be entirely borne by the US side," he said. He added without providing details. ,
The Chinese Communist Party has long claimed to govern Taiwan democratically as part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to "reunite" with the island of 24 million people - if necessary - Despite it having never been governed. Washington officially recognizes Beijing instead of Taipei, but is committed to providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
Pelosi's positive test result follows a wave of positive tests among lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week.
She was next to President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday as he signed a bill into law. House physicians told CNN that members who participated had to test negative within 24 hours of the event.
Top House Democrat Pelosi is 82 years old. As Speaker of the House, he is second in the line of succession to the President after the Vice President.
The White House said Biden, 79, tested negative on Wednesday night.