The Chinese Armed Forces began military exercises in the South China Sea. The maneuvers take place amid preparations for a possible visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. This is reported by sina.com.
It is reported that the exercises will be held over two days in four areas of the South China Sea - in the waters of the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. The purpose of the exercises and the number of forces involved is not specified.
The American edition of NBC, citing sources, says that today begins the tour of an official delegation of the U.S. Congress, headed by Pelosi, in Asian countries.
For now, the delegation is expected to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. The visit to Taiwan is still listed as preliminary.
Congressman Rick Larsen (D.C.) said Chinese officials were pressuring him to prevent Pelosi from traveling to Taiwan. According to him, a Chinese embassy official demanded in a phone call to cancel the visit.
