Pelosi meets Singapore leaders at start of Asia tour

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held talks with officials in Singapore on Monday at the start of her Asia tour, as questions arose about a possible stopover in Taiwan that have fueled tension with Beijing.

Pelosi met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and other cabinet members, the Foreign Ministry said.

Lee welcomed the US commitment to a strong relationship with the region, and the two sides discussed ways to deepen US economic engagement through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the ministry said in a statement.

Lee and Pelosi also discussed the war in Ukraine, tensions around Taiwan and mainland China and climate change, he said. Lee “highlighted the importance of stable US-China relations for regional peace and security,” he added, in an apparent allusion to reports that Pelosi might visit Taiwan.

In a statement over the weekend, Pelosi said she will visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and “democratic governance.”

He did not confirm news reports that he might visit Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against meddling in Beijing’s dealings with the island in a phone call last week with US President Joe Biden.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated earlier warnings on Monday, saying “there will be serious consequences if she insists on making the visit.”

He did not detail any specific consequences. “We are fully prepared for any eventuality,” she said. “The People’s Liberation Army will never sit idly by. China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Pelosi was to attend a cocktail party later Monday with the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. There is no media access to his visit, which has been kept secret.

She is scheduled to be in Malaysia on Tuesday. A parliament official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and declined to be identified by her name, said Pelosi will visit Malaysian House Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun. No further details were immediately available.

On Thursday, Pelosi will meet with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo in Seoul to discuss security in the Indo-Pacific region, economic cooperation and the climate crisis, Kim’s office said in a statement. release.

He declined to provide further details about his itinerary, including when he will arrive in South Korea and how long he will stay.

Pelosi’s schedule for Wednesday remains unclear and there were no details on when she will travel to Japan.

[Con información de The Associated Press]

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