“Those who play with fire will perish by it,” China’s foreign ministry quoted Xi as telling Biden in their fifth call as leaders. “It is hoped that the U.S. will be cleared eyed about this.”
Scott Kennedy, a China analyst at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, said leader-level contacts were essential to preventing this. China has given few clues to specific responses it might make if Pelosi makes the trip, which she has yet to confirm. Some analysts believe Xi has an interest in avoiding escalation as he seeks an unprecedented third term in office this year. Others say playing up the Taiwan issue could serve Xi as a domestic distraction from China’s slowing economy.
Lol Xi thinking we aren’t willing to sink every Chinese ship worldwide