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Nancy Pelosi holds the third-highest office in the US as Chair of the US House of Representatives: »Further advancing common interests and values«
Photo: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
Even before the US Democrat Nancy Pelosi had officially confirmed her sensitive trip to Asia, there was a political dispute over the possible route.
Would Pelosi go to Taiwan and thus provoke China and at the same time put Joe Biden under pressure - or will she avoid the democratic island republic?
Now the chairwoman of the US House of Representatives has confirmed her trip to Asia and has not given any information about a possible visit to Taiwan.
Her office said on Sunday that she would travel to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan with a six-member US Congressional delegation.
A planned visit to Taiwan had previously led to diplomatic tensions in the relationship between China and the United States and Taiwan on the other side.
(Read background information on the current situation in the conflict here.)
For years, the conflict over democratic and US-backed Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, has been intensifying.
China has been trying to isolate the country internationally for years and also reserves the right to reunite the island with the mainland using military force if necessary.
In a phone call to US President Joe Biden on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said: “Those who play with fire will eventually get burned.
I hope that the US side understands this correctly."
In a newspaper interview, a Chinese political scientist even mentioned an Air Force escort that could intercept your plane with regard to a possible Pelosi visit to Taiwan.
As Chair of the House of Representatives, the US Democrat holds the third highest office in the US and is likely to travel on a military plane.
Meanwhile, China had announced military maneuvers near Taiwan for Saturday.
Live ammunition should also be used.
China's air force reinforced the government's claim to the island in Beijing on Sunday with martial words.
"The Air Force has the determination, full confidence and sufficient capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," an Air Force spokesman said Sunday.
The People's Republic of China has enough fighter jets to encircle "the precious island of our motherland."
hpp/reuters
