According to Taiwanese broadcaster SETN, Nancy Pelosi will arrive at Songshan Airport in Taipei on August 2 at 22:30 local time (17:30 Moscow time).
The channel provides a detailed schedule of events for the US Congress House of Representatives spokesperson. According to SETN, Pelosi will stay at the Grand Hyatt and meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on August 3 at 8:00 am to visit the Legislative Yuan (parliament). It was noted that the politician will leave the island at 10:00 or around noon.
CNN also confirmed the information that Pelosi will visit Taiwan, despite warnings and harsh reaction from Chinese officials, citing US officials and Taiwanese leadership.
According to the channel, the American administration expressed its concern over the reaction of China to such a visit. According to a CNN source, the Pentagon is working around the clock to monitor any movement of Chinese forces in the area and develop a plan to keep Pelosi safe.
“Unofficial Stop”
Chinese newspaper Global Times suggests that Pelosi’s plane may land at Taiwan airport on the pretext that it is too far away.
It’s still possible that Pelosi would want to take the risky and dangerous step of trying to land in Taiwan under the pretext of a plane crash or refueling.
The Global Times notes that a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) plane could “protect” Pelosi’s plane and allow it to land at airports in Sansha, China, or other airports in China.
The publication emphasizes that no matter what happens, China will be on high alert to fully prepare for a possible military conflict.
Citing analysts, the South China Morning Post said Pelosi could visit Taiwan in the form of a “transit stay” at Taipei airport and try to make the visit an “unofficial stopover”.
“If he does that, or if he calls the visit unofficial, it means that pressure or military threat from Beijing still worries him,” said Huang Kuibo, professor of international relations at Zhengzhi University in Taipei.
Experts agree that the Taiwanese leadership will try to make this event more restrained and lower its level so that there is no harsh reaction from the PRC authorities.
It is noteworthy that Taiwan is not officially included in the itinerary of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. But the media has repeatedly pointed to the possibility of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Strong reaction from China
Beijing has repeatedly stated that it did not coordinate Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which it considers its territory. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned that a US politician’s visit to the island would be considered US interference in the country’s internal affairs and would have “very serious consequences”.
“The People’s Liberation Army of China will not sit idly by,” the spokesperson said, and promised Beijing would “take strong and effective countermeasures.”
Diplomat Cao Yi, on the other hand, posted two statements on behalf of China’s Eastern Military District command on his Twitter page.
“We are ready to bury the invading enemies,” the statement said.
He warned once again that Pelosi should not visit Taiwan.
“When you play with fire, you will set yourself on fire,” the diplomat wrote. Thus, he reiterated what Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone call to US President Joe Biden on July 28.
“We strongly oppose separatism, ‘Taiwan independence’ and foreign interference (in China’s affairs) and we will not leave any room for Taiwan’s independent powers… If you play with fire, you put yourself in danger. fire,” said Xi Jinping. In response, the US President reaffirmed his commitment to the One China principle.
The China Maritime Security Administration has issued a navigational warning that part of the South China Sea will be closed for military exercises between 00:00 on August 2 and 00:00 on August 6.
Taiwan prepares for war
Sleek Gist reports that the Taiwanese military is on “high alert”.
According to the portal, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has canceled the holidays of some officers and soldiers. mobilized air defense forces to “prepare for war”. This is due to heightened tensions over a possible visit by Pelosi to the island.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, the Chinese army has sent four J-16 fighters to the island’s air defense zone.
US sends aircraft carrier
Nikkei Asia reported that the United States has sent aircraft and carriers stationed in the area close to Taiwan to create a “buffer zone” for Pelosi’s possible arrival.
The US military is moving its assets, including aircraft carriers and aircraft, closer to Taiwan ahead of an expected but unconfirmed visit by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the island.
According to him, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, the landing craft Tripoli (off the southern Japanese island of Okinawa) and America (near the city of Sasebo in southwestern Japan) are currently in the Taiwan region. In addition, three submarines are based in Hawaii, along with the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS Essex, and 36 other warships.
It is stated that the withdrawal of additional US military forces could secure a possible visit of the politician to the island.
What is known about the trip
The speaker of the US House of Representatives may visit Taiwan as part of his Asia tour. Pelosi has already planned visits to Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. At the same time, the politician refused to comment on information about a possible arrival in Taiwan, citing security requirements. For the same reason, the visit was not officially announced.
Pelosi is the third most important post in the US government hierarchy. His visit to Taiwan may be the first time a politician of this rank has visited the island in 25 years. At the same time, Beijing has repeatedly warned Washington that China will take “hard measures” if the visit to the island takes place.
China’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Tan Kefei, stressed that Pelosi’s visit to the island would violate the “one China” principle, harm military relations and lead to a worsening of the situation. He promised that the PRC military would “take all measures to stop foreign intervention and separatist attempts to separate Taiwan”.