HONG KONG US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is heading to Asia for a tour of the region after landing in Hawaii, where she visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the USS Arizona.
Pelosi is leading a congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific and plans to visit several places, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, a statement from her office said on Sunday.
There has been no mention of Taiwan in recent days, despite speculation that Pelosi may plan to visit the self-governing democracy of 24 million people.
China's Communist Party, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory -- though it has never controlled it -- has warned against Pelosi visiting the island, and U.S. President Joe Biden recently hinted that the U.S. military believes such a visit "would not be a . Now that's a good idea." However, US lawmakers on both sides of the political divide in Washington are calling for him to go.
"Today, our Congressional delegation travels to the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm America's strong and unshakeable commitment to our allies and friends in the region," Pelosi said in the statement released by her office.
She said high level meetings will be held in each country to "further advance our shared interests and values, including peace and security, economic growth and trade, the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, human rights and democratic governance."
Pelosi said the delegation had received a briefing from the United States Indo-Pacific Command leadership after a fuel stop in Hawaii, where they visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the USS Arizona.
Traveling alongside Pelosi as part of the Congressional delegation are Chairman Gregory Meeks (Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), Chairman Mark Takano (Chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs), Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Congressman Andy Kim. .
"Under the strong leadership of President Biden, America is firmly committed to smart, strategic engagement in the region, understanding that a free and flourishing Indo-Pacific is crucial to prosperity in our nation and around the globe," Pelosi said.
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