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The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, left Malaysia, in the middle of her tour of the Asian continent. Attention is focused this August 2 on her possible stop in Taiwan, which has generated strong tensions with China. That country sent a destroyer off the Taiwanese coast, considering that an eventual official visit by Pelosi would be Washington’s recognition of the autonomy of the island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
The United States does not rule out a possible visit to Taiwan by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and China threatens retaliation.
Although the official itinerary only lists stops for the senior lawmaker in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, speculation of an unannounced visit to Taipei marks her tour of Asia.
Beijing warns of “serious repercussions”. In the early hours of this Tuesday, August 2, China sent a destroyer ship of its Army about 80 kilometers from the coast of Lanyu Island, southeast of Taiwan, according to the state news agency ‘CNA’.
In addition, other destroyer ships, intelligence ships and missile frigates of the Chinese Army have been deployed in recent days in waters near Lanyu.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday. The trip, the highest-level US visit to the island since 1997, would set up a tense standoff with China that could lead to more aggressive military posturing.
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— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 2, 2022
Since last week, Beijing’s armed forces have held several exercises, including live-fire drills, in the South China Sea, Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea. An attempt to demonstrate its military might amid worsening ties between Washington and Beijing.
In addition, the Xi Jinping Administration declared that it will take “forceful measures” if Pelosi’s visit takes place. However, on Monday, August 1, the White House responded that the Democratic leader “has the right” to travel to Taiwan if she so decides.
Beijing views Taiwan, an autonomous island, as a renegade province that will one day be “reunified” with the rest of its territory. Any action that is seen as legitimizing the Taipei government, such as a visit by a high-level foreign politician, is seen by Beijing as a violation of its “sovereignty” that would warrant a “tough response.”
News in development…
With Reuters and EFE
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