The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosiwill lead a congressional delegation will tour Asiahis office confirmed, though does not mention a stopover in Taiwan against rumors that he could visit the island that China claims as part of its territory. Pelosi’s trip includes stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
“Today our congressional delegation travels to the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm the strong and unwavering commitment of the United States to our allies and friends in the region,” Pelosi said, according to the note. The Democratic leader is traveling accompanied by five congressmen, including the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks.
“The delegation will hold high-level meetings to discuss how we can continue to 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,” Pelosi said in the note released by her office.
Relations between the United States and China are going through a period of tension since the possibility of Pelosi visiting Taiwan was raised. China considers Taiwan, an island of some 23 million inhabitants, as one of its provinces, which has not yet been reunited with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war (1949).
The Chinese government opposes any initiative that gives international legitimacy to the Taiwanese authorities and to all official contacts between Taiwan and other countries.
Last Thursday, President Joe Biden and his counterpart Xi Jinping had a tense phone conversation in which the Chinese leader told the White House chief that the United States should not “play with fire” when it comes to Taiwan. In the conversation with Xi, Biden assured that the position of the United States regarding Taiwan did not change and that his country opposes “unilateral efforts to change the status or threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Since 1979, the United States has recognized “one China” with its capital in Beijing. It does not officially recognize Taiwan, but supports it militarily.
This week, the Taiwanese military held its largest annual military exercises, which included simulations of intercepting Chinese attacks from the sea. At the same time, the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and her flotilla set sail from Singapore for the South China Sea, according to the US Navy.
China responded on Saturday with a “live ammunition” military exercise in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese Air Force spokesman insisted on Sunday that the defense of Chinese territory was the “sacred mission” of the Army.