South Korea's President won't meet Nancy Pelosi as office says 'he's on summer holidays'

After concluding her high-profile visit to Taiwan by renewing Washington’s ironcl commitment to defending democracy on self-governing island despite vehement protests from China, US Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be meeting officials of South Korea in her next stop. She will speak with South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol by phone as he will t be meeting with Pelosi in person, according to Yoon’s office. 

As per President's office, Yoon is currently on holiday and confirmed face-to-face meeting has been arranged between m. tably, Yoon took office in May this year, with a pledge of boosting South Korea's military alliance with US in order to deal with rth Korea's unprecedented provocations. Despite this, he chose to continue his holiday trip, skipping a meeting with top US officials.

It is crucial to te here that Chinese government h warned Taiwan of a dramatic situation over allowing Pelosi to visit Taipei. It sent 27 aircraft to Taiwan's air defence identification zone (IZ) hours after Pelosi's plane left Taipei. Despite staunch warning of any untoward situation, US Speaker visited country and left for America on Wednesday. On or hand, US Speaker issued a statement describing her tour as a "strong statement that America stands with Taiwan." She said that visit is part of broer travels in Indo-Pacific, focused on security, prosperity and governance - on which Taiwan is a global leer.

Pelosi will also visit inter-Korean border area

After concluding her visit to Taiwan, US Speaker and or members of Congress flew to South Korea on Wednesday evening as part of ir Asian tour After Seoul, y will travel to Japan.  According to  itinerary released by Seoul, US Speaker will meet South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo and or senior members of Parliament. She will be talking about regional security, ecomic cooperation and climate issues. Besides, a South Korean official told AP News ncy on condition of anymity because he wasn’t authorised to speak to media on matter, she will also be visiting inter-Korean border area that is jointly controlled by American-led U.N. Command and rth Korea.

China continue to lecture US over Pelosi's Taiwan visit

dressing a press conference on Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying dubbed Pelosi's visit "unhealthy" for "democracy" and ded her visit only provoked and violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "What Pelosi has done is definitely t a defence and maintenance of democracy, but a provocation and violation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. While Pelosi is one performing this grandstanding act, it is China-US relationship and peace and stability in region that is taking ir toll," Chunying said after her departure. 

Im: AP