US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has added Taiwan to her Asia-Pacific tour itinerary, according to senior Taiwanese government and US officials, CNN reports..The Taiwanese official said plans are to stay in Taiwan overnight Tuesday, but it's not clear when she would land in the country..The US official said Department of Defense officials are monitoring Chinese movements in the region while securing a plan to keep the speaker safe..The names of the officials have not been released..The announcement comes in the face of threats made on the weekend by the Communist Chinese they would shoot down Pelosi’s jet..Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian renewed the threat on Monday, saying there would be "very serious" consequences if Pelosi does visit Taiwan.."We would like to tell the United States once again that China is standing by, the Chinese People's Liberation Army will never sit idly by, and China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Zhao. ."If she dares to go, then let us wait and see.".The Biden administration said on Friday a visit to the island nation is “not a good idea right now.”.John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, said "we'll let her and her staff speak to this trip she's on," without confirming, or denying, she will stop in Taiwan..He added there is "no reason for the Chinese rhetoric" against a stop in Taiwan, as it is "not uncommon for congressional leaders to travel to Taiwan."."It is very much in keeping with our policy," he said. "It is consistent with our support to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. As a country, we shouldn't be intimidated by that rhetoric or those potential actions. This is an important trip for the speaker and we're going to do whatever we can to support her.".“Our focus is to keep the region free and safe and open. The United States has a lot of capacity across all levels of government to make sure that we can do that.".In recent weeks the US has moved aircraft carriers and other assets closer to Taiwan, creating a buffer zone in anticipation of Pelosi's possible visit, Nikkei Asia reported on Monday.. "There are a lot of tensions geopolitically, not just because of China but because of North Korea and other tensions in the region, so there is a lot of business for the Speaker of the House to conduct on a trip like this,” said Kirby. “She can speak to her stops, and what she's trying to accomplish.".Flight tracking websites are also showing that two U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King IIs, the branch's only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery planes have come to Okinawa from Anchorage, accompanied by multiple KC-135 Stratotankers, used for aerial refueling..Before dawn on Monday local time (+14 hours from MDT), Pelosi and her delegation touched down in Singapore, according to flight tracking websites following her plane..Pelosi’s trip is designed to strengthen relations with US allies in the region, including visits to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and now it appears, Taiwan. .Pelosi is being urged to make the visit by, among others, former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, Mitch McConnell, minority leader in the US Senate and Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, former national security adviser to Vice President Pence and President Trump..“I think she should go and I think she should announce it. She shouldn't keep it low key,” Kellogg told FOX News. “We need to acknowledge that China is an emerging power that threatens us economically, militarily, politically. We're reaching a point now where I think you need to start thinking hard about what China will do and the reason for that. .“I really believe they believe they can take the measure of (President Biden) and they think they may have to get something done in the next two-and-a-half years because they don't know who's going to occupy the White House after this president’s term.”.US allies in the region are watching closely, said Kellogg..“The Japanese, the Indonesians are looking at what we're doing. The Philippines. ” he said. “This is a critical moment in time and we need to stand very firm. Nancy Pelosi needs to go to Taiwan.”.And make it well known. .“Land in the middle of the day and have a parade in Taipei,” aid Kellogg. “I'm saying Nancy, you've got to go. You represent the United States of America and I would remind President Xi do not even think about harming her or even think about harassing her aircraft.”
