This photo from Malaysia's Department of Information, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, waves to media as she tours the parliament house in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
The second phase of Nancy Pelosi's Asian tour began on Tuesday when she arrived in Malaysia.
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Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday to begin the second phase of her Asian tour overshadowed by an anticipated arrival in Taiwan, which would heighten tense relations with Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over the self-governing island.
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Pelosi and her delegation arrived by jet at an air force installation under heavy protection. She visited the lower house speaker in the House of Representatives before adjourning for lunch with the prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
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The highest-ranking elected American official to visit Taiwan in more than 25 years, Pelosi, will arrive in Taipei on Tuesday night, according to Taiwanese local media, despite the absence of any formal announcement.
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If Pelosi pushes through with the visit, China, which views Taiwan as a rebel province that should be reclaimed by force if necessary, has threatened consequences and stated that its military will "never sit idly by."
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The White House criticised Beijing's rhetoric on Monday, asserting that the United States "will not take the bait or engage in sabre rattling" and that it has no interest in heightening tensions with China.
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John Kirby, a member for the White House National Security Council, emphasised that Pelosi was ultimately in charge of deciding whether to travel to the autonomous island. He mentioned the frequent congressional visits to Taiwan over the years.
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In case Pelosi goes ahead with the visit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also asked China to "act responsibly."
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After the Communists won a civil war on the mainland, Taiwan and China divided in 1949. Even though it acknowledges Beijing as the government of China, the United States still has informal contacts and military cooperation with Taiwan.
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Pelosi is also scheduled to travel to Japan, though it is unknown when.