Taiwan army soldier. File photoBEJING Aug 2Taiwan's military may increase its alert level from Aug. 2 to 4 amid a possible visit to the island by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and a likely sharp reaction from Beijing, the island's Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing informing sources. The agency notes that , according to reliable information, from 8.00 (3.00 Moscow time) on August 2 to 12.00 (7.00 Moscow time) on August 4, the army will increase combat readiness and will adjust it accordingly depending on the possible threat from the People's Liberation Army of China. However, the source told the agency, that at the moment the island's army maintains the level of combat readiness at the usual level, and it has not yet been adjusted. Taiwan. If the visit to the Chinese island takes place despite Beijing's protests, it would be the first visit by a speaker of the US House of Representatives since 1997. The US administration, warned by the Chinese president that «playing with fire risks getting burned,» assured Beijing of its commitment to the «one China» policy, but distanced itself from a possible visit, saying that the speaker makes decisions herself. Taiwanese media reports that she may arrive on the island on Tuesday and meet with the leadership of the island administration on Wednesday. The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed these reports.Chinese officer called a way to «teach a lesson» to the United States in the situation with Taiwan. The PRC considers the island its province and always opposes any contact between Taipei representatives and current officials, especially high-ranking officials, or the military from countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations. Reports of a possible visit to Pelosi Island, which Beijing calls the third most important official in the US government, expectedly provoked a very negative reaction from China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that in the event of Pelosi's visit to Beijing Island, he will definitely take decisive and effective measures to protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the United States will be fully responsible for all the serious consequences arising from this. At the same time, China's official departments did not specify what kind of drastic measures they were talking about.
