Pelosi to visit Taiwan despite warnings of angering China

NANCY PELOSI will visit Taiwan next week despite repeated warnings that the trip will anger Beijing and objections from the White House, according to US sources.

The Washington Post said the trip is expected to happen during the early part of her Asian tour which was due to commence yesterday, in which she is leading a congressional delegation.

Her office said the visit was “possible” but declined to confirm her itinerary. Ms Pelosi has remained tight-lipped about her intentions, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I never talk about my travel. It’s a danger to me.”

Should the 82-year-old go to Taiwan, she would be the first House Speaker to visit the island – which Beijing insists is part of China despite never having governed there – since Newt Gingrich, the hard-right Republican, in 1997.

With all three branches of the American government being regarded as equal, President Biden is powerless to stop Ms Pelosi from making the trip.

But earlier this month, he signalled his unease about the planned visit.

“Well, I think that the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” he said.

Ms Pelosi’s congressional delegation reportedly departed for its visit to Asian allies on Friday, taking in stops at Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. Sources who have seen the itinerary say it listed a visit to Taiwan as “tentative”.

Beijing has been putting pressure on Washington to stop Ms Pelosi and her delegation. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, left Mr Biden in no doubt about his feelings during the two leaders’ lengthy phone call on Thursday.

“Public opinion shall not be violated, and if you play with fire you get burned.

‘Public opinion shall not be violated, and if you play with fire you get burned. I hope the US side can see this’

I hope the US side can see this clearly,” China’s state news agency quoted him telling the US president. Beijing last night threatened to shoot down US fighter jets escorting Ms Pelosi to Taiwan. “The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets... ,” a commentator with the stateaffiliated Global Times, put on Twitter.

There are also concerns the visit would reinforce links between Beijing and Moscow, with Russia’s foreign minister saying “We have no problem with upholding the principle of China’s sovereignty.”