Show of support for Taiwan canceled?
Nancy Pelosi has confirmed her trip to Asia next week. On the itinerary are four countries and fuel stops in Hawaii. She and her congressional delegation will visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. There is no mention of a stop in Taiwan.
Did the Speaker blink? China has grown increasingly aggressive in its objections to Pelosi’s trip to Asia, which she originally said would include a visit to Taiwan. Pelosi and her delegation left today. Her statement included the subjects of discussion on the agenda.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against any perceived meddling in Beijing’s dealings with Taiwan in a phone call Thursday with President Biden. “Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this,” a Chinese readout of the Biden-Xi call said. The Biden administration has not released a transcript of the phone call. The readout released by the White House was rather brief, though the conversation lasted over two hours. (emphasis mine)
It’s a delicate dance the White House finds itself in since Pelosi first announced her intention to visit Taiwan.
