Topline
More than 708,000 people used a flight-tracking website to follow the progress of a U.S. Air Force plane carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that landed at Songshan Airport in Taiwan’s capital of Taipei on Tuesday, in a visit that comes despite China’s warnings of serious repercussions.
Timeline
according to the tracking service FlightRadar24.
After leaving Kuala Lumpur Tuesday afternoon, local time, a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-40 aircraft believed to be carrying Pelosi flew across Southeast Asia—avoiding the South China Sea,
set up an online “waiting room” for new users trying to access the tracking info as the site says it is facing “usual volumes” of traffic.
The high interest in the tracker forced FlightRadar24 tofighter jets touching the median line of the Taiwan Strait in an apparent act of intimidation, and China’s military announced it will conduct offshore live-fire drills around the island starting as early as Tuesday night, local time, amid military exercises it has been carrying out since last week.
Reports emerged of Chinesefollowing it live on FlightRadar’s website—more than any other flight ever tracked on the website.
Pelosi’s flight (SPAR19) landed in Taipei, as 708,000 people werestatement condemning Pelosi’s visit, arguing it “seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence.’”
Just as the flight landed, China issued atweeted, saying the discussions with Taiwan “reaffirm our support for our partner and promote our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
“Our delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy,” Pelosiletter in support of the trip Tuesday, calling it “consistent with the United States’ One China policy” (a policy of ambiguity towards Taiwan), with notable absentees including Ted Cruz (Texas), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Rick Scott (Fla.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.).
Some 26 Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Whip John Thune (S.D.), wrote aWhat To Watch For
Pelosi is expected to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and visit the country’s parliament on Wednesday, Taiwan’s United Daily News reported earlier.
Further Reading
Chinese warplanes take to skies, US warships on move before expected Pelosi visit to Taiwan (Reuters)
Washington Urges Calm Over Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit But Tensions Cause Asian Markets To Slide (Forbes)
This is a developing story.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/08/02/pelosis-flight-lands-in-taiwan-some-republican-senators-voice-support/