White House public affairs coordinator John Kirby stressed that any possible visit by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan would not be a provocation, adding that “it is alarming that China will take advantage of Pelosi’s possible visit.” he said, adding that “Pelosi’s eventual visit to Taiwan will show that our one-China policy has not changed, and our commitment to Taipei’s security has not changed.”

Kirby said in an interview with MSNBC that “Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no sign that he is ready to stop the war in Ukraine.” “We will provide Ukrainians with a new military aid package shortly,” he said, noting that “Putin is trying to get drones from Iran, which indicates that he wants to continue the war in Ukraine.”

Earlier today, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that “the Chinese army will not sit idly by” if Pelosi visits Taiwan.

And on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressing Taiwan in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden, stressed that “he who plays with fire will be burned by it.”

Notably, the island of Taiwan, located in East Asia off the coast of China, is one of the most sensitive issues for Beijing, which considers it an integral part of Greater China and rejects any attempt or separatist actions aimed at its independence.