SINGAPORE: US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi kicked off a closely-watched Asia tour in Singapore as China warned that its military would never “sit idly by” if she were to visit Taiwan, self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.

Amid widespread speculation over whether she would make a stop in Taiwan, Pelosi’s office announced that she was leading a Congressional delegation to region that would include visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. It did not mention Taiwan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that it would be “a gross interference in China’s internal affairs” if Pelosi visits Taiwan and warned that it would lead to “very serious developments and consequences.”

“We would like to tell United States once again that China is standing by, Chinese People’s Liberation Army will never sit idly by and China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhao told a regular daily briefing.

Asked what kind of measures PLA might take, Zhao said, “If she dares to go, then let us wait and see.” China views visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to pro-independence camp in island. Washington does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by US law to provide island with means to defend itself.

On Monday, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang did not directly respond when asked whether Pelosi will visit on Thursday, as local media have speculated.

“We always warmly welcome visits to our country by distinguished foreign guests,” he told reporters in Taipei.

Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing said that if Pelosi visits Taiwan it would prompt strongest counter-measures by Beijing in years, but he did not expect that to trigger major military conflict.–Agencies