CNN reported on Monday that Nancy Pelosi will visit Taiwan as part of her ongoing tour of Asia, a move that could spark major tensions with China, which has already warned of serious consequences for what it views as interference in its internal affairs.
Nancy Pelosi arrived for her weekly press conference on Friday.
CNN reported that a senior Taiwanese government official and a U.S. official said that Pelosi is expected to stay in Taiwan for at least one night.
The top House Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, is leading a congressional delegation on a trip to Asia.
It would be the most high-profile visit to Taiwan by a US official since 1997.
If Pelosi goes through with the visit, it will lead to very serious developments and consequences.
The Pentagon is keeping a close eye on the Chinese military movements in the region to make sure Pelosi and her delegation are safe.
There are planned visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, but there is no mention of Taiwan.
The Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times suggested that Pelosi's delegation could use aircraft troubles as an excuse to make an emergency landing in Taiwan. If Pelosi's plane develops issues, the Chinese Air Force will be able to take the delegation to Sansha, a city located on one of the many disputed island chains in the South China Sea.
It is not clear what Beijing will do if Pelosi goes to Taiwan. According to a Beijing-based international relations professor, neither side will carry out any actions that could lead to a bigger conflict. The editor-in-chief of Global Times, Hu Xijin, warned that Beijing would shoot down the U.S. planes entering Taiwanese airspace if they entered it. After his account was locked, Hu deleted his account.
In a phone call with his Chinese counterpart, President Joe Biden made it clear that the U.S. does not support independence for Taiwan and that the U.S. position on Taiwan has not changed. Biden was not in favor of Beijing changing the status quo. Those who play with fire will be killed by it. Biden said last month that the U.S. military was opposed to Pelosi visiting Taiwan. Defense officials told the Associated Press that any flight into Taiwan would receive protection from U.S. military assets.
The Taiwanese premier did not confirm Pelosi's visit when asked by reporters on Monday.
Taiwanese and US officials say that Pelosi is going to visit Taiwan.
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