The Chinese President has warned his US counterpart against “playing with fire” over Taiwan in a call that lasted more than two hours.

There are mounting concerns in Beijing that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been a staunch critic of China throughout her more than three decades in Congress, will travel to Taiwan.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and objects to all official contact between Taipei and Washington, routinely threatening retaliation.

Pelosi is second in line to the presidency and would be the highest ranking US politician to visit Taiwan since 1997.

China has threatened “strong measures” should the trip go ahead but gave little indication of what response it may take.

It fired missiles into waters near Taiwan in response to then-president Lee Teng-hui’s 1995 visit to the US but military capabilities have significantly advanced since.

The White House says the leaders discussed “a range of issues important to the bilateral relationship and other regional and global issues” during the call, including climate change and health security.

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