2nd August 2022 – (Luzon) The special aircraft carrying Pelosi and her entourage touched down at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang at 10.33am today, amid tight security. While in Malaysia, she met Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun at the Parliament building at noon before adjourning for a luncheon meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a local hotel.
At about 3.42pm Hong Kong time, the USAF plane that may hold the Pelosi delegation took off in Malaysia. China warned that it will take firm and effective measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and security interests if Pelosi plans to visit Taiwan. According to reports, the Pelosi delegation took the C40C special plane no. SPAR19 and landed at the Subang Air Force Base in Malaysia at about 10.33am in the morning. A flight-tracking page said another USAF plane no. SPAR20 also arrived in Malaysia from Japan earlier. However, USAF plane no. SPAR20 has not taken off since it landed in Subang more than 5 hours ago.
It could not be confirmed that if Pelosi or her delegation were on the plane no. SPAR 19. Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taipei later at 10.20pm this evening. According to its flight path on Flightradar24.com, it flew past Singapore and it’s now flying 10,688 metres above at a speed of more than 500 miles per hour over West Kalimantan purportedly heading towards Philippines. As suggested by Chinese website of Radio France Internationale earlier, the plane may fly towards Taiwan after a quick stopover at Clark Air Base in the Philippines for possible refuel and reinforcement. It is also unsure if Pelosi and/or her delegation will switch aircraft at the air base if she is indeed on plane no. SPAR 19.
Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Angeles City, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air Force under the aegis of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and their predecessor organisations from 1903 to 1991. The base covered 14.3 square miles (37 km2) with a military reservation extending north that covered another 230 square miles (600 km2).
Meanwhile, there was also online rumour that Pelosi may have taken a commercial flight from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei to avoid being intercepted by the Chinese military.
According to Chinese commentator, Hu Xijin, Beijing has already formulated a series of countermeasures including military actions ahead of Pelosi’s arrival.
Meanwhile, Taiwan News quoted a Taiwanese legislator as saying that a meeting between a congressional delegation led by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Taiwan’s Legislative Speaker You Si-kun was scheduled for Wednesday morning (3rd Aug).
William Tseng, the Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip, said he was just informed of a meeting scheduled for 8.50am Wednesday morning on the 2nd floor of the Legislature. The congressional delegation from the U.S. and caucus whips of the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan are invited. Apple Daily, citing people familiar with the matter, reported Pelosi will meet President Tsai Ing-wen in the early morning before heading to the 8.50am meeting. A state banquet was arranged to welcome the delegation at noon, and the delegation will leave Taiwan that afternoon for South Korea.
Pelosi and her delegation are expected to arrive at Taiwan Songshan Airport at 10.20m tonight. At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send personnel to pick them up and use the diplomatic bubble mode to enter Taiwan. Pelosi and her delegation are expected to stay at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Xinyi District, Taipei City. However, the foreign ministry kept a low profile on the itinerary and said it had no further comment.
According to police sources, Taipei City is expected to deploy 1,000 police officers to carry out security measures for Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. At least 200 people have been mobilised in Songshan District and Xinyi District to carry out security measures for Songshan Airport and Grand Hyatt Hotel respectively. Security control is believed to be to protect Pelosi delegation in Taiwan.
