House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office announced early Sunday morning that she plans to visit at least four Asian countries during her trip to the region, but a stop in Taiwan was notably left out.
Pelosi will be visiting Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. The focus of the trip will center around mutual security, economic partnership, and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region, her office said in a press release.
“Today, our Congressional delegation travels to the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm America’s strong and unshakeable commitment to our allies and friends in the region,” Pelosi said in the release.
“In Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, our delegation will hold high-level meetings to discuss how we can further advance our shared interests and values, including peace and security, economic growth and trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, human rights, and democratic governance,” she continued.
The Congressional delegation will include Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York, Mark Takano of California, Suzan DelBene of Washington, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, and Andy Kim of New Jersey.
After much controversy around Pelosi’s unwanted visit to Taiwan, President Biden suggested earlier this month that U.S. military officials believe a visit to Taiwan is “not a good idea.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Biden in a phone call Thursday that the U.S. must not “play with fire” on Taiwan.
“Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this,” a Chinese readout of the Biden-Xi call said.
China has become increasingly furious over the potential of Pelosi visiting Taiwan, with Beijing warning that there will be consequences if the Speaker stops on the island. Chinese officials have said Pelosi visiting Taiwan would violate the One China Policy and would constitute aiding an illegal rebellion.
A Chinese state media propagandist even suggested shooting down the Speaker’s plane if she does visit.
Just days after Hu Xijian threatened to shoot down the plane, China held live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait sending another clear message that the Pelosi camp is not wanted.
