Japanese media says US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit Taiwan on Sunday. Fuji News Network shared the update on Thursday, shortly before Pelosi begins an official visit to Japan on Friday.
If Pelosi comes to Taiwan after Japan, it will be the first time in 25 years that a sitting US House speaker has visited Taiwan. The last speaker to visit was Newt Gingrich in 1997.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou did not confirm or deny the report, but said Taiwan always welcomes visits by US politicians.
Other US officials have voiced their support for Taiwan recently. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that the US is prepared to enact sanctions against China if it attacks Taiwan. In addition, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said that international sanctions against Russia show Beijing that other countries will take action if China invades Taiwan.
Ou says Taiwan is thankful for the support and will continue to strengthen its own defense capabilities and relations with countries like the US.
Ou adds that these reassurances from the US are especially valuable now, as the war in Ukraine continues to rage on. She says that these international ties are essential for promoting peace and prosperity in the cross-strait and Indo-Pacific region.