House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will visit Taiwan on Tuesday during her tour of Asia, despite warnings from the Biden administration and from China.
The tour of the congressional delegation led by Pelosi began Monday in Singapore. His office confirmed that Malaysia, South Korea and Japan were in the program. Although Pelosi did not include Taiwan in his public plans, Taiwanese media have reported that he will land in Taipei on Tuesday night.
Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS assured that he could meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. CNN it also confirmed Pelosi’s plans. A Taiwanese official told the outlet that the congresswoman would be staying in the country overnight.
Pelosi’s controversial stop in Taipei, which would make her the highest-ranking US official to visit the autonomous island in decades, indicates, according to analysts, that the Pentagon has downgraded its assessment of a potential Chinese military threat.
But Beijing has made clear that such a high-level US delegation visit to Taiwan “would have a severe negative impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and send a seriously wrong signal to separatist ‘independence’ forces.” of Taiwan’”.
“A visit [de Pelosi] to Taiwan would constitute serious interference in China’s internal affairs and lead to a very serious situation and serious consequences,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday.
President Biden said earlier this month that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now” to make the trip to Taiwan. Former President Trump also said that Pelosi’s possible trip could worsen tensions.
However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been largely supportive of the visit. “I hope that he will withstand the pressure that he will receive, and is already receiving, from President Biden and the administration. I think it’s important that we show solidarity with our ally Taiwan,” said Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio).
“Part of our responsibilities is to make sure that she can travel freely and safely, and I can assure you that she will,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday.
