Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON , 29th July. US House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday has invited top lawmakers to join her on the trip. A stop in Taiwan is listed as “tentative” on an itinerary, reported in news media.
Pelosi is leading an official congressional delegation to Asia on Friday, two sources said, though it’s unclear if the trip will include a stop in Taiwan.
One of the sources who had reviewed the itinerary on Thursday afternoon said it listed a Taiwan visit as “tentative,” though the trip will include visits to Asian allies Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.
Pelosi’s delegation is departing on Friday, the last day the House is in session before its month long August recess, reported by various news media in Washington.
Pelosi has invited senior lawmakers to join her on the trip, included Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and Veterans Affairs Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., who led a delegation of lawmakers to Taiwan last year.
Takano declined to comment about the trip as reported by NBC News.
Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill also declined to comment.
The speaker’s office said that they have a policy of not discussing any international travel by lawmakers in advance, cited security concerns.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was invited to join the Speaker to visit Taipei but is unable to attend because of a previous commitment, his spokesperson Leslie Shedd confirmed to The Hill.
Shedd added that the congressman was disappointed not to be able to join the trip.
“He also believes the Speaker or any other American official should be able to visit Taiwan if they would like to,” Shedd said.
McCaul had said that he supports members traveling to Taiwan, but cited warnings from senior US. Officials such as General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that such a visit “could be potentially dangerous move.”
“I would hate to see any blowback come out after, or as she goes to Taiwan,” McCaul told the news media.
Pelosi proposed visit to Taiwan sparked international uproar by Beijing with warnings that it would carry out a “forceful” response if she sets foot on the democratic island, which China sees as under its control.
Lawmakers from both parties rallied behind Pelosi visit to Taipei, however, urged her to make the trip and emphasize U.S. support for the self-governing Taiwan.
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