Monday, August 1, 2022

Report: Pelosi to visit Taiwan despite Chinese threat to shoot her down

US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan as part of her tour of Asia this week despite threats from the Chinese government that a visit to the island nation would provoke a military response, according to a Taiwanese and American official.

CNN reported that the Taiwan visit would go ahead despite not being included on the itinerary for Pelosi's Asia tour and despite warnings from officials in the Biden Administration that the visit carried significant risks.

According to the Taiwanese official, Pelosi will stay in the capital of Taiwan, Tapai, overnight one day this week. The American official said that the US is closely monitoring Chinese military movements to be ready for any immediate threats and has prepared a security plan to protect the Speaker and the rest of her congressional delegation.

The Chinese government has threatened to shoot down Pelosi's plane if she goes through with her visit to Taiwan. Pelosi and the delegation landed in Singapore early Monday morning in the first stop of her trip.

The last time a Speaker of the House visited Taiwan was in 1997, when Newt Gingrich was Speaker during the Clinton Administration. (Read More)