Any move by China to invade Taiwan would have "terrible consequences," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday, adding that he hoped Chinese leaders would think very carefully about "not precipitating a crisis" across the Taiwan Strait.

Blinken, speaking at the Reuters Next conference, said China had been trying to change the status quo over self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, and that the United States is "resolutely committed" to making sure the island has the means to defend itself.

"But here again, I hope that China's leaders...