Pelosi: Biden has not warned her against a trip to Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, says US President Joe Biden has not talked to her directly about an official trip to Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in August.

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday warned that Beijing would take "forceful measures" if Pelosi visits Taiwan as reported by sections of US media.

Biden on Wednesday said the Pentagon is concerned about a backlash from China and is seeking to discourage the visit from happening.

“The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” Biden said as he stepped off of Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, “but I don’t know what the status of it is.”

Speaking to reporters in the Capitol on Thursday, Pelosi declined to confirm that the trip was happening — “You never even hear me say if I’m going to London because it is a security issue,” she said — while suggesting the Pentagon’s concern is that Beijing would attack her plane, rather than allow it to land in Taipei.

“I think what the president was saying is that maybe the military was afraid that our plane would get shot down, or something like that, by the Chinese,” she said. “I don’t know exactly. I didn’t see it. I didn’t hear it.”

“You’re telling me and I heard it anecdotally,” she added. “But I haven’t heard it from the president.”

According to reports, Pelosi is due to visit Chinese Taipei in August. She will be among the highest-ranking US officials to visit the self-ruled territory.

Pelosi’s plan to lead a delegation to Taipei next month was reported first by the Financial Times.

Pelosi’s scheduled trip to Taiwan quickly caught the attention of Chinese leaders, who are warning of stiff repercussions if she goes through with it.

“If the United States insists on having its own way, China will take strong measures in response to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, according to Reuters. “All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the U.S. side.”

Pelosi on Thursday seemed to downplay the significance of the visit.

“I think that it’s important for us to show support for Taiwan,” she said. “I also think that we have — none of us has ever said we’re for independence when it comes to Taiwan. That’s up to Taiwan to decide.”

The US House speaker's trip to the Asian continent, originally scheduled to take place in April, was held back after she contracted COVID-19. 

At the time, China said such a visit would severely affect Chinese-US relations, which are already fractured.

She will be the first sitting US House speaker to visit Chinese Taipei since 1997 when Newt Gingrich traveled to the territory to meet then-Taipei president Lee Teng-hui.

China vows 'forceful measures' if US House Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday warned that Beijing would take "forceful measures" if US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Chinese Taipei in August as reported by sections of US media.

China, which enjoys sovereignty over Taiwan, has repeatedly warned the US against formal ties with the self-ruled territory.

The US does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, however, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Washington is allowed to sell arms to the island. Beijing maintains that weapon sales to the island violate China’s sovereignty.

The US also recognizes Chinese sovereignty over the island, but in an attempted affront to China and violation of its official policy, Washington constantly sells weapons to the Chinese Taipei leadership.

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