China warns US that trip by Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen could lead to ‘serious confrontation’

Past transits by Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen through the US were “mistakes” and the precedent will not restrain Beijing’s response to her current visit, China’s senior envoy to Washington warned as Tsai arrived in New York on Wednesday.

Xu Xueyuan, chargé d’affaires at Beijing’s embassy in the US, also sounded an alarm about another “serious confrontation” in the rival powers’ relations if a planned meeting between Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were to take place.