Defying Beijing’s warnings, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, further inflaming relations between the United States and China.
In a statement released immediately after her arrival, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that her visit demonstrated “America’s steadfast commitment to supporting Taiwan’s thriving democracy.”
“We’re here as a gesture of goodwill.” Mrs. Pelosi informed members in Taiwan that she had arrived “in peace” during a trip to the island’s legislature.
On Wednesday, the California Democrat received a civilian honour from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in her presidential office in Taipei, the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon ().
In a speech, Nancy Pelosi said that the globe was split between democracy and authoritarianism, and she committed to support Taiwan.
America’s support with Taiwan is more important than ever, according to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. “We will not give up on Taiwan, and we are proud of our longstanding alliance,” said the president.
“I will resolutely preserve our nation’s sovereignty and continue to maintain the line of defence for democracy,” Ms. Tsai said.
Infuriated by what Beijing sees as a threat to its sovereignty, the White House is concerned that the trip may further exacerbate already strained ties between the United States and China.
Jets from China passed over the Taiwan Strait while Nancy Pelosi’s aircraft was approaching Taipei on Tuesday. Beijing released a statement denouncing the visit, summoned the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, and warned it would conduct live-fire drills near the island shortly after she arrived.
Trips like this “severely erode China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which characterised the trip as “gravely destabilising” to the Taiwan Strait.
It hasn’t been ruled out that Beijing would use force to annex Taiwan and make it part of its territory. China’s claim to Taiwan is acknowledged but not supported by the United States, and the US is legally obliged to provide Taiwan with weaponry for self-defense.
As an opponent of the Chinese Communist Party, Speaker Pelosi justified her travel to Taiwan, claiming that it was part of a wider effort to advance democratic values and was a confirmation of historical American policy toward the island.
“As the globe confronts a choice between despotism and democracy, America’s support with Taiwan’s 23 million people is more crucial than ever,” she added in her statement.
White House officials have maintained that the administration did not request that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not go on her trip, in accordance with the division of powers among the many departments of government.
After President Biden’s trip to Taiwan, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned him to expect a “collapse” in ties. US policy toward Taiwan is unchanged, Vice President Biden said to Chinese President Xi.
The White House’s National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, reaffirmed on Tuesday that Nancy Pelosi’s travel was in line with U.S. policy.
Mr. Kirby warned Beijing against using the visit as a pretext to escalate tensions and military activities in or near the Taiwan Strait.
US politicians from the House and Senate are now on a tour of the Asian continent, including Taiwan, where Nancy Pelosi will be visiting. Mrs. Pelosi and other Democratic members flew out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday afternoon and followed a path that looked to skirt the South China Sea, where Beijing has an established military base. At 10:44 p.m. local time, the jet touched down in Taipei, Taiwan.
TW 101’s façade said “Welcome to TW Speaker Pelosi,” with the words “Welcome to TW Speaker Pelosi” underneath it. In a mob of hundreds at Taipei Songshan Airport, one woman said she wanted to shake hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some fans greeted her warmly outside the Grand Hyatt, where she stayed Tuesday night, while others carried posters saying “Yankee Go Home.”
