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| Photo Credit: AP. |
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Hawaii in her first stop as she heads for her much talked about Asia tour. In Hawaii, Pelosi visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the USS Arizona, CNN reports.
Pelosi is
accompanied by a Congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific and is expected
to visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, CNN cited a statement
released by her office on Sunday.
"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, CNN reported.
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."
The Speaker
said the delegation had received a briefing from United States Indo-Pacific
Command leader after a fuel stop in Hawaii, according to CNN.
Some members
of the delegation include – 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, according to CNN.
"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.
It is not
clear if the 2nd in line to the White House would visit Taiwan following
speculations to the effect that such visit is likelihood. Her visit has
received widespread support from congressional leaders across party lines.
Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to
bow to threats from China over her reported trip to Taiwan. McConnell said
Pelosi would hand China a win if she backs down from her plans to visit the
Island, The Washington Times reports.
The Kentucky
Republican said the U.S. should not bow to Beijing’s saber-rattling.
“If she
doesn’t go now, she’s handling China a sort of a victory of sorts,” Mr.
McConnell told reporters Tuesday, according to The Washington Times.
The Senator
called on the Biden administration to ensure Taiwan has the arms need to meet
“the threat they might actually have to endure.”
China had
warned the United States of “consequences” if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi goes
ahead with an alleged plan to visit Taiwan, an Island claimed by Beijing under
its one China policy.
On Tuesday
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said that “the Chinese military
will never sit idly by, and will certainly take strong and resolute measures to
thwart any interference by external forces and secessionist attempts for Taiwan
independence,” if Mrs. Pelosi follows through with the visit, according to The
Washington Times.