John Kirby, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plans to visit Taiwan do not indicate a change in Washington’s policy on the island.
Kirby said the United States has no interest in escalating tensions with China over the visit and prefers to resolve all disputes over Taiwan through diplomatic means.
“We will not fall for the bait and show no force,” Kirby promised, stressing that the United States “will not be intimidated” and will continue to operate in the Indo-Pacific region, seeking to maintain lines of communication with Beijing.
“We expect Beijing to continue to use inflammatory rhetoric and disinformation in the coming days,” Kirby added, but the United States remains focused on “trying to manage tensions.”
“The United States will continue to support Taiwan as we strive to keep channels of communication open with Beijing,” Kirby concluded, adding that Washington considers the two missions necessary to maintain the status quo in the region.
Source: RIA Novosti + CNN