Shannon Longworth:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has begun her diplomatic trip in Asia with a stop in Singapore, but it’s still unclear whether she’ll visit Taiwan.
As we all wonder, a Chinese official came out today, saying his military will “not sit idly by” if Pelosi visits the island.
China has continually warned the U-S not to support Taiwan’s independence…Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan back into the fold in an act of “reunification.”
In fact, just last week, Xi told President Biden not to “play with fire.”
The White House is downplaying the potential for conflict.
John Kirby:
“The speaker has not confirmed any travel plans. And it is for the speaker to do so, and her staff. The speaker has the right to visit Taiwan. And a speaker of the house has visited Taiwan before, without incident. As have many members of congress, including this year. The world has seen the United States government be very clear that nothing has changed, nothing has changed about our one China policy.”