Nancy Pelosi starts Asian tour with speculation over Taiwan visit

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held talks with officials in Singapore on Monday at the start of her Asian tour, as questions swirled over a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing.

While there have been no official announcements, local media in Taiwan reported that Pelosi will arrive Tuesday night, becoming the highest-ranking elected US official to visit in more than 25 years. The United Daily News, Liberty Times and China Times Taiwan's three largest national newspapers cited unidentified sources as saying she would arrive in Taipei after visiting Malaysia and spend the night.

Such a visit will spark fury in Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly warned of serious consequences" if the reported trip goes ahead.

If Pelosi insists on visiting Taiwan, China will take resolute and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, without giving ...