Although Taiwan is not part of the officially announced route of her trip to Asia, the speaker of the US House of Representatives has not denied such speculation. China’s air force refers to its own combat capability in threatening words.
US top politician Nancy Pelosi is leaving open a controversial stopover in Taiwan during her trip to Asia. Stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan were announced in a statement released on Sunday by the Office of the Speakers of the US House of Representatives. Whether the US Democrat is also planning a visit to Taiwan or not was not mentioned. The 82-year-old is number three in the US leadership, after the President and Vice President.
“Today, our congressional delegation travels to the Indo-Pacific region to reaffirm America’s strong and unwavering commitment to our allies and friends in the region,” Pelosi said Sunday. The politician will be accompanied on her trip by several members of Congress. The focus of the trip is “mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region,” it said in a statement.
Speculations about a possible visit to Taiwan by Pelosi had recently increased tensions between Washington and Beijing and also fueled international concerns about a possible escalation. Beijing had threatened such a trip with significant consequences.
China’s air force threatens to launch fighter jets
China’s air force made clear reference to the Beijing government’s claim to the island. “The Air Force has the determination, full confidence and sufficient capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” an air force spokesman said on Sunday, referring to the island nation considered by Beijing to be a breakaway province. The People’s Republic of China has enough fighter jets to encircle “the precious island of our motherland”.
Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, whose national independence Russia disputes, the world’s eyes have increasingly focused on the unresolved Taiwan conflict. The Chinese leadership regards free Taiwan as part of the communist People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. The US supports the island state, which insists on its independence as the Republic of China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Biden on Thursday to recognize Beijing’s one-China principle, adding: “Those who play with fire will die in it.” Tensions between the major powers have seldom been greater. According to the US Presidential Administration on Friday, it has no indication of any upcoming military activities by China against Taiwan. In the past, China has repeatedly underlined its claim with maneuvers near the island.