China warns of retaliation if Taiwan’s president meets US House speaker

Beijing has urged the US not to allow Tsai Ing-wen to transit through the US, saying it would be a ‘provocation’

• China-Taiwan relations explained in 30 seconds

The Chinese government has threatened retaliation if Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, meets the US House speaker this week, and urged the US not to let her transit through the country, saying it would be a “provocation”.

Tsai departs on Wednesday afternoon for a 10-day trip to visit Central American allies, Belize and Guatemala. The trip includes two stopovers, in New York on the way in, and Los Angeles on the way out. Tsai is expected to meet with the speaker, Kevin McCarthy in California, but there hasn’t been official confirmation.