US house speaker Kevin McCarthy confirms he will meet Taiwan president in California

China previously warned McCarthy he is playing with fire' over the meeting and risks serious confrontation'

• China and Taiwan tensions explained in 30 seconds

Republican US House speaker Kevin McCarthy has confirmed he will meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California on Wednesday, defying dire warnings from China that he was playing with fire".

Tsai plans to stop over in the United States on her return from Central America, where she has met the leaders of Guatemala and is visiting Belize before meeting McCarthy.