Following Pelosi...British MPs Plan Visit to Taiwan

British House of Commons foreign affairs committee is planning a visit to Taiwan later this year amid rising tensions with China, the Guardian reported on Monday.

Sources revealed that the trip – which will probably be in November or early December– aims to express the UK's support for the democratically run island, which China considers its own.

The British delegation was originally set to visit the Asian nation early this year but was postponed after one member tested positive for COVID-19.

Tensions have been rising on the Taiwan strait over the recent weeks after reports of a possible trip to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Beijing has threatened to take “decisive actions” if the trip goes ahead.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a candid talk with U.S. President Joe Biden and discussed Taiwan in a call that lasted more than two hours.

During their phone conversation, Xi told Biden that the U.S. is wrong to view China as a long-term challenge and warned Washington not to “play with fire” over Taiwan. He also stressed that the two sides should maintain communication at all levels and promote bilateral cooperation.