Status: 08/02/2022 05:03
The Chinese leadership’s threats do not seem to deter US House Speaker Pelosi from visiting Taiwan: according to reports, she is expected in Taipei – for China that would be an affront.
In the tensions surrounding Taiwan, the chairwoman of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, is expected in the democratic island republic on Tuesday, according to information from the parliament in Taipei.
It would be the highest-ranking visit by a US politician to Taiwan, which Beijing’s communist leadership sees as part of the People’s Republic of China, in a quarter of a century. With the unannounced visit to Taipei, the top politician would ignore urgent warnings from Beijing, in which possible military countermeasures were also indicated.
MP confirms reports
A Taiwanese MP confirmed to the dpa news agency in Taipei various press reports in the United States and Taiwan that Pelosi, as part of her Asia trip, might arrive in Taipei on Tuesday evening local time from Malaysia. The Reuters news agency also reported on Pelosi’s arrival in Taipei on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the travel plans.
There could be a meeting with President Tsai Ingwen on Wednesday. According to US media reports, however, the travel plan is in motion, while the Pentagon is monitoring all the steps taken by the Chinese side and is working “around the clock” to ensure the security of the number three in the United States, it said.
The US top politician will probably also meet with the vice president of the parliament, Tsai Chi-chang, and members of the legislative council in Taipei, the Taiwanese parliamentarian reported to the dpa. Parliament leader You Shyi-kun was prevented because he was in quarantine after a trip abroad.
Xi renews warning to US
The Democrat’s visit would be the highest-ranking US visit to Taiwan since her former Republican predecessor, Newt Gingrich, in 1997.
China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping warned US President Joe Biden in a telephone call last Thursday before the visit: “Those who play with fire will perish.”
Blink: Expect China to act responsibly
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby accused China of overreacting. When the Speaker of the House of Representatives travels to Taiwan, it is not as an official representative of the Biden government, but quite independently of it. She is traveling to Taiwan as a member of parliament and that is nothing unusual.
Similar words came from Foreign Minister Blinken. “Many congressmen are visiting Taiwan again this year and if Nancy Pelosi intends to do so, then we expect China to act responsibly and not allow the situation to escalate.”
Military responses?
Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China, does not believe there is any danger. But, he said on CNN, he expects a military response from Beijing. “They could launch more military planes and operate flights close to Taiwan’s airspace. They could also pilot ships into their sea area and thereby have more footage of their military actions to show the world that China is defying the United States.”
In his opinion, Pelosi’s visit adds fuel to the already troubled relationship between the two superpowers. There is disagreement in Washington as to whether Pelosi is making things worse or whether she is doing the right thing. She herself was always undeterred in the run-up to her trip to Asia.
“Such a visit is very dangerous”
China does not see the democratically run island as independent, but as part of its territory and wants to achieve “reunification” – if necessary also militarily. President Xi takes action against any state that wants to expand diplomatic and economic relations with the island republic. The journey of Pelosi applies to both.
That has to be stopped, says the Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, in New York. Washington’s efforts at appeasement seem ineffective. Zhang Jun made another threat. “We have stated our position several times. It is clear. Such a visit is very dangerous and very provocative.”