Pelosi’s trip includes stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are all US allies. in in region.
But drop-in to a self-governing Taiwan was still only tentative as China warns that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is doing possible visit, and US-China relations are at a low point.
Pelosi is carrying a delegation of fellow legislators on visit. She refused to answer journalists’ questions about her. plans, speaking on Wednesday in when asked about a potential visit to Taiwan: “I never talk about my trip. danger to me.”
“Public opinion must not be violated, and if you play with fire you’ll get burned. I hope the USA side I see it clearly,” he told Biden. news agency.
Pelosi would be first the incumbent speaker of the US House of Representatives will visit Taiwan after Newt Gingrich was there in 1997.
Pressure campaign on Congress
The Chinese Embassy in the United States called on members of Congress to ban Pelosi from planned trip for April before Pelosi’s positive test result for COVID-19.
“I would say what happened full Chinese embassy court press to prevent travel to Taiwan,” said Washington Democratic Party spokesman Rick Larsen, co-chair of The US and China Congress works group, told CNN. “I just I don’t think it’s them business to tell us what should we do. This was my message back.”
Larsen said that met with Consul General of China in San Francisco in Seattle on Monday and he also told Larsen to talk Pelosi out of Taiwan. The consulate did not respond to inquiries for comment.
“It’s not my job to tell the speaker what they do or don’t do,” Larsen said. “She’s far away more experience in these things than me. So I will trust her judgment.”
Liu Penyu, press secretary of Chinese Embassy in The United States replied that office is in “regular contact” with members of Congress, including Larsen.
“Regarding the Taiwan question, we have made our position is loud and clear”, Liu said. “The Embassy is making every effort to prevent peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and stability of Sino-US relations hit by possible visit of Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan.”
“We hope that serious consequences can be avoided,” he said. added. “It in in common interests of both China and the US.
Democrats and Republicans in Congress has declared that Pelosi has the right to go to Taiwan.
“This is the voice of Speaker Pelosi. decision one on should I go to Taiwan and not to any other country,” said Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican colleague of Larsen. on USA-China works group. “In our democratic system — we are working with separate but equal branches of government.
“It’s inappropriate for foreign governments, including the Chinese government, try to influence ability or the right to travel for speaker, members of Congress or other US government officials in Taiwan or anywhere else around world”LaHood added.
Other participants were more be wary of a possible, diplomatically sensitive trip.
Democratic Republic of California by Judy Chu first Chinese American elected Congress, said she “always supported Taiwan.”
But when asked if a trip to Taiwan would now send wrong message, Chu said: “You can look at it from two sides. First, the relationship is now very strained. on on the other hand, one could say maybe that’s when Taiwan also need to show strength and support.”
When asked what she thought, Chu said, “I leave it up topics who going to do it decision.”
This story was updated with additional background information.
