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Washington lost the diplomatic battle between the U.S. and Beijing amid the trip of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Asia.
On July 31, the plane with Nancy Pelosi on board took off from Guam, according to the tracking service Flightradar24. The destination of the special aircraft of the US Air Force Boeing C-40C (09-0540) was not specified, but it took of in the direction of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.
The Singapore’s Foreign Ministry that the U.S. delegation led by Pelosi will visit Singapore from August 1 to 2 for talks with President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and a number of ministers.
At first, he took off from the mainland of the United States in the direction of Hawaii. Then the Flightradar service restricted users’ access to the route of the special board.
Nancy Pelosi is going to visit Washington’s main allies in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
At the same time, the US delegation could also make an “unannounced” stop on the island of Taiwan. Earlier, several American media reported that Pelosi would visit Taiwan. In turn, she did not confirm or deny these allegations.
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She already intended to go to Taipei in April, but then her plans were prevented by coronavirus.
Nancy Pelosi’s provocative maneuvers are another attempt to push China to aggravate the situation in Taiwan.
Beijing’s officials warned of the toughest measures if she decided to visit the island.
China urged the White House to strictly adhere to the “one China” policy, as well as not to aggravate the situation in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping unequivocally advised Biden “not to play with fire” during their phone call last week.
Chinese state media commentator Hu Xijin of the Global Times said Pelosi’s plane should be shot down if it’s escorted by by US fighter jets as it’s an “invasion.”
“If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion,” Xijin said in a tweet that has since been censored by Twitter. “The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down.”
The Global Times also released a piece noting how China’s People’s Liberation Army made a post on social media stating, “Preparing for War!”
The official account of the 80th Army of the Ground Forces of the Northern Command of the PLA on Weibo posted the appeal: “Get ready for war”
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Amid Pelosi’s departure, the Chinese military conducted live firing exercises in the waters of the eastern province of Fujian, located across the strait from the island of Taiwan, on July 30. The maneuvers were probably intended to demonstrate to the US the Beijing’s determination to defend national interests by military means if necessary.
During the PLA exercises in the Taiwan Strait, a massive launch of MLRS missiles was made in the direction of Taiwan.
In addition, the PHL-16 MLRS were spotted during their transfer to the eastern Fujian province.
In turn, Taiwan has deployed air defense systems at Taoyuan International Airport, a civilian facility, and has also raised fighter jets from Chiayi Air Base.
The China’s military drills are also a response the US military manoeuvres in the region. The American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group, including a guided missile destroyer and a guided missile cruiser, set out from Singapore on Monday heading northeast towards the South China Sea, according to ship-tracking information provided by Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Probing Initiative.
Thus, on July 31, the website of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives announce the countries that Pelosi will isit during her trip. They included Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Taiwan was not mentioned.
However, the media battle did not end. On July 31, France Internationale reported that Pelosi will fly to Taiwan via Clark Air Base in the Philippines and will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on August 4. Then, on the evening of August 5, Pelosi’s plane will land at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo where she will meet with Fumio Kishida.
