The White House on Wednesday said it was up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whether she travels to Taiwan, despite public pushback by China and Pentagon reservations.Tensions are running high over the future of the autonomous island, which is
Such a high-profile visit could be seen as provocation by Chinese authorities, who have been flexing their muscles all year, ramping up military flights around the island and toughening their rhetoric.
But John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman, told reporters that the White House did not tell Pelosi where she can and cannot travel.
'The Speaker makes her own decisions about travel,' he said.
'We present her with facts, context, analysis, geopolitical realities she'll be facing wherever she goes.'
But last week President Joe Biden himself said the Pentagon had concerns over the reported trip saying, 'the military thinks it's not a good idea right now.'
Shortly before Kirby spoke, the Associated Press reported that the Pentagon plans to step up military activity in the region.
It reported that officials said fighter jets, ships, surveillance assets and other military systems be pressed into action likely to secure buffer zones protecting Pelosi’s flight.