Politico reports:
U.S. defense officials are increasingly concerned that China would see a congressional delegation to Taiwan, escorted by military aircraft, as an invasion. That rhetoric escalated Friday when Hu Xijin, a commentator with the Chinese-state-owned Global Times, threatened that China’s military could down the speaker’s plane.
“If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion,” Hu wrote on Twitter. “The [Chinese military] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down.”
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The Pentagon is preparing for Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan even as a Chinese state media commentator suggested today that Beijing could shoot down any U.S. military plane she takes to Taipei.https://t.co/ANxanJOsjO
— POLITICO (@politico) July 29, 2022