China threatens to ‘resolutely fight back’ as Taiwan president begins US trip

US says meeting should not be an excuse to carry out aggressive action against Taiwan

China has pledged to “resolutely fight back” if Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen meets US House speaker Kevin McCarthy during an upcoming trip to the US.

Top diplomats of China and Taiwan exchanged heated words as the president of the self-governing island democracy took off from Taipei to begin her 10-day tour of the Americas on Wednesday.

Ms Tsai is scheduled to transit through New York to Guatemala and Belize and is expected to stop over in Los Angeles where she will tentatively meet Mr McCarthy on her way back to Taiwan.