Pelosi lands in Malaysia as China rages over Taiwan

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2, 2022 (BSS/AFP) –

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived 
in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Malaysian state media reported, her second stop 
in an Asian tour that has sparked rage in Beijing over a possible visit to 
Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as its territory and has indicated through repeated 
warnings that it would view such a visit as a major provocation.

Pelosi landed at a Malaysian air force base ahead of meetings with the prime 
minister and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, state news agency 
Bernama reported.

After Singapore and Malaysia, her itinerary includes stops in South Korea and 
Japan — but the prospect of a Taiwan trip has dominated attention.

While President Joe Biden’s administration is understood to be opposed to a 
Taiwan stop, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said 
Pelosi was entitled to go where she pleased.

“The speaker has the right to visit Taiwan,” he told reporters.

“There is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit consistent with 
longstanding US policies into some sort of crisis.”

Kirby cited intelligence that China was preparing possible military 
provocations that could include firing missiles in the Taiwan Strait or 
“large-scale” incursions into Taiwanese airspace.

He said Pelosi was travelling on a military aircraft and that while 
Washington did not fear a direct attack, it “raises the stakes of a 
miscalculation”.

Taiwan’s military on Tuesday said it was “determined” to defend the island 
against increased threats by China over the potential Pelosi visit.

Kirby reiterated, however, that US policy was unchanged toward Taiwan.

This means support for its self-ruling government, while diplomatically 
recognising Beijing over Taipei and opposing a formal independence 
declaration by Taiwan or a forceful takeover by China.

Taiwan’s government has remained silent on the prospect of a Pelosi visit.

Premier Su Tseng-chang did not confirm the visit on Tuesday when asked by 
reporters, but thanked Pelosi for her support.

Multiple Taiwanese media outlets carried comments from deputy parliament 
speaker Tsai Chi-chang saying Pelosi was “very likely” to visit in the coming 
days.

The Liberty Times newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying she would land 
Tuesday night, then meet President Tsai Ing-wen the next day before departing 
in the afternoon.

– More warnings from China –

Taiwan’s 23 million people have long lived with the possibility of an 
invasion, but the threat has intensified under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a call with Biden last week, Xi warned the United States against “playing 
with fire” on Taiwan.

And China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Hun, said Monday that 
such a visit would be “very much dangerous, very much provocative”.

If it happens, “China will take firm and strong measures to safeguard our 
sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he said.

American officials often make discreet visits to the island to show support, 
but a Pelosi trip would be higher-profile than any in recent history.

“The probability of war or a serious incident is low,” tweeted Bonnie Glaser, 
director of the Asia programme at the US-based German Marshall Fund think 
tank.

“But the probability that… (China) will take a series of military, 
economic, and diplomatic actions to show strength & resolve is not 
insignificant,” she added.

“Likely it will seek to punish Taiwan in myriad ways.”

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