Nancy Pelosi heads to Asia without mentioning Taiwan

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set off for a four-nation tour of Asia on Sunday, but made no mention of Taiwan after drawing protest from Beijing over reports she might visit the territory.

“Today, our congressional delegation travels to the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm America’s strong and unshakeable commitment to our allies and friends in the region,” the California Democrat said in a statement.

She said the group would visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

“Our delegation will hold high-level meetings to discuss how we can further advance our shared interests and values, including peace and security, economic growth and trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, human rights and democratic governance,” Pelosi continued.

The congresswoman was expected to land in Singapore on Monday.

Earlier this year, she proposed a trip to Taiwan, but postponed it after getting COVID.

When asked about her travel plans earlier this month, she said it’s “important for us to show support for Taiwan.”

A man uses a magnifying glass to read a newspaper headline reporting on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Asia visit, at a stand in Beijing, Sunday, July 31, 2022. Pelosi confirmed Sunday she will visit four Asian countries this week but made no mention of a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing, which claims the island democracy as its own territory. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong/)

That enraged China’s President Xi Jinping, who last week warned President Biden against interfering in Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. China on Saturday announced military exercises near Taiwan. The country’s rulers view visits by U.S. officials as encouraging Taiwan’s efforts to make their longstanding assertions of independence official.

“Under the strong leadership of President Biden, America is firmly committed to smart, strategic engagement in the region, understanding that a free and flourishing Indo-Pacific is crucial to prosperity in our nation and around the globe,” Pelosi said.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, (D-Queens, L.I.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was among the five lawmakers accompanying Pelosi, according to her office.

With News Wire Services