A day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared to wilt under the pressure of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) threats surrounding her potential visit to Taiwan, a new report suggested she intends to go through with it despite official plans to the contrary.
On Sunday, the speaker released an official itinerary and departed with her congressional delegation to reinforce the United States’ support of friends and allies in the region. After numerous warnings from Chinese and American officials that a previously announced trip to Taiwan would only increase tension in the region, Pelosi openly appeared to kowtow to the CCP listing only Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan as destinations for the trip.
Now, according to a senior Taiwanese government official and a U.S. official, CNN reported that Pelosi is expected to be the first speaker since former Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) to visit the nation in 25 years.
Breaking: @CNN confirmed that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit #Taiwan during her Asia tour, according Taiwanese and US officials. https://t.co/xq8K45J2st
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) August 1, 2022
“The Taiwanese official added that she is expected to stay in Taiwan overnight,” the report stated. “It is unclear when exactly Pelosi will land in Taipei.”
The Taiwanese official added that she is expected to stay in Taiwan overnight. It is unclear when exactly Pelosi will land in Taipei.
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) August 1, 2022
That said, it stands to reason that since the tour of the Indo-Pacific began at the westernmost point of the island nation of Singapore, the delegation would most likely stop while traveling from Malaysia to South Korea as they return eastward to the United States.
One of our delegation’s first stops in Singapore was to greet our U.S. Marine Detachment at @RedWhiteBlueDot.
It was our honor to bring the gratitude of the Congress to our patriots in uniform selflessly serving our nation overseas. pic.twitter.com/mIU93buIjE
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 1, 2022
The Washington Examiner reported that Taiwanese defense officials had canceled leave requests for soldiers ahead of Pelosi’s anticipated visit “to immediately prepare” for retaliation from China after having previously held response drills for the citizenry should the mainland lash out.
Meanwhile, the unnamed U.S. official told CNN that “defense department officials are working around the clock on monitoring any Chinese movements in the region and securing a plan to keep her safe.”
The US official added that defense department officials are working around the clock on monitoring any Chinese movements in the region and securing a plan to keep her safe.
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) August 1, 2022
Threats faced by the speaker included a report from Chinese state media that “If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion. The [People’s Liberation Army] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down.”
China accuses WH of lying on Biden phone call, threatens to shoot down Pelosi’s plane https://t.co/xRrfYA0xmu pic.twitter.com/agjxt9GSlC
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) July 30, 2022
After President Joe Biden’s perceived foreign policy failure in summarily preventing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has appeared to ramp up aggression in the region to challenge the U.S. government’s commitment to enforcing the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 wherein it was established the U.S. would supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself from an attack.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters Monday, “We would like to tell the US once again that China is standing by, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will never sit idly by. China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity…As for what measures, if she dares to go, then let’s wait and see.”
Should Pelosi fail to make good on her original plan to travel to Taiwan, it would justify Chinese President Xi Jinping’s intimidation tactics and add to a growing sentiment of weakness on the part of Biden’s administration across the world stage. For that reason, many find themselves in agreement with Pelosi’s reported decision to carry on with a visit to Taiwan, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).
He wrote on Twitter Monday, “This is the right decision by Speaker Pelosi. America should never back down when the Chinese Communist Party resorts to fear and intimidation tactics.”
This is the right decision by Speaker Pelosi. America should never back down when the Chinese Communist Party resorts to fear and intimidation tactics. https://t.co/jhp5AqKXGB
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) August 1, 2022
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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