U.S. House Speaker Pelosi begins Asia tour; no mention of Taiwan

U.S. House Speaker Pelosi begins Asia tour; no mention of Taiwan


Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on Friday, July 29, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi starts a tour of four Asian countries on Sunday, her office said, without mentioning Taiwan amid intense speculation she might visit the self-ruled island claimed by China.

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a Congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific region, including visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan,” her office said in a press release.

The release said the visit would include those countries, but did not specify whether Pelosi, who is number 3 in the line of presidential succession, might make other stops.

“The trip will focus on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region,” it said.

Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was among the delegation listed.

China views visits by U.S. officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp in the island. Washington does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

President Xi Jinping warned his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday that Washington should abide by the one-China principle and “those who play with fire will perish by it.”

Biden told Xi U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed and that Washington strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese air force spokesman Shen Jinke was quoted by state media as saying on Sunday that Beijing will “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” referring to Taiwan.

Shen said at a military airshow that the air force has many types of fighter jets capable of circling “the precious island of our motherland”. He said China’s “air force has the firm will, full confidence and sufficient capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

A People’s Liberation Army unit said on the Twitter-like social media Weibo on Friday: “Prepare for war!”

Prominent Chinese commentator Hu Xijin said on Saturday he deleted a tweet warning of military retaliation should U.S. fighter jets escort Pelosi on a Taiwan visit, after Twitter blocked his account.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday the United States has seen no evidence of looming Chinese military activity against Taiwan.



Source

Trump names Transportation Secretary Duffy as interim NASA administrator
Politics

Trump names Transportation Secretary Duffy as interim NASA administrator

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks alongside FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau during a news conference at the Department of Transportation Headquarters on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday tapped Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to serve as the interim administrator of NASA, a role that has remained vacant […]

Read More
Trump says 50% tariff on copper will begin Aug. 1
Politics

Trump says 50% tariff on copper will begin Aug. 1

Copper wires at a recycling facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, US, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Niki Chan Wylie | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the 50% tariff on copper imports, which he announced earlier on Tuesday, will begin on Aug. 1. The decision was made after he […]

Read More
Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids
Politics

Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids

Reverend Alberto Rojas, Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino Ordaining Prelate and Principal Celebrant, leads the Ordination to the Priesthood mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Will Lester | Medianews Group | Getty Images A Catholic bishop in California has issued a rare decree […]

Read More