Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan despite China's warnings

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan, which is in a sovereignty dispute with China, on Tuesday during her tour of the Pacific countries Despite China’s warnings, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan on Tuesday. The first news about Pelosi’s schedule was reported by Taiwan’s pro-government party newspaper Liberty Times. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, however, declined to comment on Pelosi’s travel itinerary. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s warnings, Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan is expected to increase the risk of military conflict between the two countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Cao Licien, who made a statement on the issue at a daily press briefing in Beijing when asked about Taiwan not being mentioned by name in Pelosi’s visit itinerary, said, “We have seen the statement made by Congress and Pelosi’s team’s Twitter posts. We are following the agenda of the visit closely.” In a statement published yesterday on the Speaker's official website regarding the visit program, it was stated that Pelosi would visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan with a five-person Congressional delegation, but Taiwan was not mentioned by name. Emphasizing that they have serious concerns about the visit and have repeatedly reiterated their opposition, Spokesperson Cao said, "The possible visit would constitute a clear interference in China's internal affairs and would violate China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. If Pelosi insists on making the visit, there will be serious consequences."