House Speaker is highest ranking US official in 25 years to come island nation claimed by Beijing; stern Chinese warnings against her arrival stoked regional tensions

US House speaker has not confirmed her stop in disputed island claimed by China; Beijing has warned Biden not to 'play with fire' over issue

China's leader affirms country's sovereignty over island, while US president reiterates opposition to any unilateral move aimed at unraveling status quo and peace in the region

US military to 'ensure a safe conduct' for House speaker's potential trip, which would mark the highest-ranking visit by a US elected official to the Pacific country since 1997

Scheduled talk will be the first between Biden and Xi in four months, expected to cover a range of issues; China warns of a severe response if House speaker travels to Taiwan

Beijing also demands US cancel $108 million arms sale to Taiwan, which would boost self-governing island's resilience against powerful People's Liberation Army

In an effort to deny Beijing the ability to mold a new world order, the Biden administration hopes to convince the international community to confront Chinese expansion

Official cites increasing sensitivity of China-Taiwan issue and growing tensions between Beijing and Washington; diplomat denies instruction amounts to policy change

US president compares potential actions to Russian invasion of Ukraine in light of Beijing's increased military provocation against democratic island

Routine security check finds suspicious component in thermal mug sent to Israeli science and transportation ministries