The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is keeping an eye on developments regarding the US official’s travel as doubts linger about Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, being able to depart for Taiwan from Clark, Pampanga.
Philippines’ MANILA The US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is due to visit Taiwan this week, raising the possibility of escalating tensions between the two countries. On Tuesday, August 2, the Philippine government encouraged the US and China to continue communication.
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Pelosi, who is presently in the Indo-Pacific leading a congressional delegation, intended to stop in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan for high-level discussions. Taiwan was not included in a recent statement from her office, but according to US publications, Biden administration officials anticipated Pelosi to add a visit in the autonomous island.
According to three “familiar with the issue” sources, the Financial Times had also reported that Pelosi intended to visit Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen on Wednesday, August 2.
Although the US official won’t be traveling to the Philippines, there are still a lot of eyes in Manila focused on the journey due to reports that Pelosi may go to Taiwan through Clark in Pampanga. In the vicinity, the Philippines also has an airbase that the US military may visit according to a defense agreement.
Pressed for comment, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was “closely monitoring developments” related to Pelosi’s visit.
“The Philippines is closely monitoring developments in this regard. It is important for the US and China to ensure continuing communication to avoid any miscalculation and further escalation of tensions,” the DFA said.
“We trust that China and the United States will be responsible actors in the region,” it added in a statement.
Pelosi’s trip to Asia is taking place while China has issued a warning that her visit to Taiwan may have “severe consequences.” In a phone discussion with President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping previously reportedly warned the US against playing with fire.
If Pelosi’s visit is approved, she will be the highest ranking US official to go to the island since then-US Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997, a period of 25 years. Beijing views US officials’ travels to the island as a violation of Xi’s prior pledge to unite Taiwan with China.
The Philippines, which shares a maritime border with Taiwan off the north of Luzon, is concerned about the escalating tensions between the US and China in Taiwan. – www.Rappler.com
