US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Kuala Lumpur today, Malaysian state media reported, her second stop in an Asian tour that has sparked rage in Beijing over a possible stop in Taiwan.

Beijing views Taiwan as its territory and has indicated through repeated warnings that it would view the visit as a major provocation.

Pelosi landed at a Malaysian air force base ahead of meetings with the prime minister and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, state news agency Bernama reported.

After Singapore and Malaysia, her itinerary includes stops in South Korea and Japan – but the prospect of a Taiwan visit has dominated attention.

While President Joe Biden’s administration is understood to be opposed to a Taiwan stop by Pelosi, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said she was entitled to go where she pleased.

Taiwan’s government has remained silent on the prospect of a Pelosi visit.

Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang did not confirm the visit today when asked by reporters but thanked Pelosi for her support.

Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times cited unnamed sources as saying Pelosi would land on the island tonight, then meet President Tsai Ing-wen the next day before departing in the afternoon.

More warnings from China

Taiwan’s 23 million people have long lived with the possibility of an invasion, but the threat has intensified under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a call with Biden last week, Xi warned the United States against “playing with fire” on Taiwan.

Yesterday, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Hun, said such a visit would be “very much dangerous, very much provocative”.

If it happens, “China will take firm and strong measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he said.

American officials often make discreet visits to the island to show support, but a Pelosi trip would be higher-profile than any in recent history. – AFP, August 2, 2022.