Pelosi plans trip to Taiwan in August

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning a trip to Taiwan next month, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions, the first such visit for a House speaker in 25 years.

The trip, which was rescheduled after Pelosi (D-Calif.) canceled an earlier visit planned for April, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over the island. Chinese ships and aircraft have repeatedly buzzed U.S. and allied aircraft over the East and South China Seas in recent months, including an “unsafe” and “unprofessional” interaction between a Chinese fighter jet and a U.S. special operations C-130 aircraft in June.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin condemned that interaction during a visit to Singapore last month.

“We’ve seen an alarming increase in the number of unsafe aerial intercepts and confrontations at sea by [People’s Liberation Army] aircraft and vessels,” Austin said at the time. “This should worry us all.”

China is likely to react strongly to the news of Pelosi’s rescheduled trip. Beijing warned in April amid media reports of the original trip that such a visit would severely impact Chinese-U.S. relations.

"It would bring serious damage to the foundation of China-U.S. relations, and would send the wrong messages to the Taiwan secessionists,” said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.

"China would respond with resolute and forceful measures, and all ensuing consequences would be borne solely by the U.S.,” Zhao added.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and frequently objects to U.S. support for Taipei. Although the U.S. does not formally have diplomatic relations with the island, Washington has long supported Taiwan’s self-defense capability with arms sales and a close military relationship, as laid out in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Pelosi planned to visit Taipei in April after a stop in Japan but postponed the trip after she tested positive for Covid-19.