Pelosi starts Asia trip in Singapore amid questions about Taiwan stop

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made her first stop in Singapore on Monday during her trip to East Asia, which has drawn a watchful eye over concerns she may visit Taiwan.

Pelosi, along with a delegation of U.S. lawmakers, met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and other members of the administration, according to The Associated Press.

The group discussed strengthening relations between Singapore and the U.S., stabilizing the U.S. relationship with China and promoting peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

Pelosi also plans to stop in Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Her delegation includes House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.). Democratic Reps. Suzan DelBene (Wash.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.) and Andy Kim (N.J.) are also traveling with her.

A possible stop in Taiwan has come under extra focus after Pelosi was repeatedly warned by China not to visit the self-governing democratic island, which Beijing sees claims sovereignty over.

Pelosi wanted to visit Taiwan over the spring during her planned trip to East Asia then, but her trip was postponed after she tested positive for COVID-19.

Ahead of the trip, President Biden warned her the U.S. military thought a stop in Taiwan would “not be a good idea” after China issued several threatening messages.