{O/C} President Joe Biden is slated to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping again amid an impending Taiwan visit by the U.S. House Speaker.
{Take SOT}
A fifth call between President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, will come as early as Thursday.
Cross-strait relations, the Ukraine and North Korean crises and reining in the economic rivalry between the two nations are expected to dominate the talks.
In Beijing, though, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian declined to offer any information about the scheduled meeting.
But overshadowing the talks is an imminent and contentious visit by U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the renegade state of Taiwan.
It's a move that's lit the touchpaper with Beijing threatening to slap the U.S. with stiff measures should a potential visit materialise.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin didn't mince words. He made clear if the US insists on getting its way, China will make good on its countermeasures.
Pelosi is in a slight disagreement with the U.S. President, who believed it was not a good idea to visit amid simmering tensions.
She'd be the highest-ranking US official to set foot in Taiwan since 1997.
An undeterred Pelosi put on a brave face.
{Soundbite}
NANCY PELOSI, Speaker of the House:
I think it's important for us to show support for Taiwan. I also think that we have, none of us has ever said we're for independence when it comes to Taiwan.
{VO}
America has stuck to its guns on adhering to the "One China" policy.
But whether the U.S. will breach Beijing's calls not to build formal ties with the restive state is all but down to the wire.
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