United States (US) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan on Tuesday night after days of intense speculation around whether the leader would make the trip at the expense of angering China.
In a statement released by her office, Pelosi said that the Congressional delegation’s (CODEL) visit to the self-governing island “honours” the US’ “unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”
Pelosi added that the delegation’s discussions with Taiwan “will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
In a reference to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which some have said could inspire China to launch a similar invasion of Taiwan, the speaker said the US’ “solidarity” with Taiwan is “more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”
Addressing China’s concerns and protests to the visit, Pelosi said that the trip was “one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan” and “in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, US-China Joint Communiqués and the Six Assurances.” She added that Washington “continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo.”
Furthermore, in an opinion piece The Washington Post that was published on Tuesday, Pelosi reflected on the “solemn vow” that Washington had made “to support the defense of Taiwan”.
The official referenced the US Defense Department’s determination that the Chinese army is “likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with China by force,” pointing to increased patrols by bombers, fighter jets, and surveillance near and over Taiwan’s air defence zone.
It's wheels down for the top-flight congressional delegation led by @SpeakerPelosi & comprising @RepGregoryMeeks, @RepMarkTakano, @RepDelBene, @CongressmanRaja & @RepAndyKimNJ. Minister Wu welcomed our faithful #US🇺🇸 friends & wished them a superb visit. #Taiwan🇹🇼 is not alone! https://t.co/rYBLRlEZc8 pic.twitter.com/UDhPliGKL1
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 2, 2022
In this respect, Pelosi wroted that “in the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) accelerating aggression,” the CODEL’s visit must be viewed as “an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner, as it defends itself and its freedom.”
She further chided the CCP by saying that “throughout the mainland, the CCP continues to target and arrest activists, religious-freedom leaders and others who dare to defy the regime.”
“We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan — and democracy itself,” Pelosi asserted. “By traveling to Taiwan, we honour our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be respected,” she wrote, declaring that “it is essential that America and our (its) allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats.”
A statement released by the Foreign Ministry said that the visit will have “a severe impact on the political foundation” of bilateral relations and “seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Beijing condemned the “serious violation” of the one-China principle and the three joint communiqués signed by the two sides and said Pelosi’s trip indicates Washington’s desire to “upgrade official exchanges” with Taipei, “change the status quo,” and seek a “new Cold War.” Reiterating a threat President Xi Jinping delivered to his US counterpart Joe Biden last week, the statement warned: “These moves, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous.”
Welcome to #Taiwan, @SpeakerPelosi! Thank you & the congressional delegation for traveling all the way to show your support. JW pic.twitter.com/Al97hB68aa
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 2, 2022
The statement argued that the US is attempting to “use Taiwan to contain China,” alleging that it “constantly distorts, obscures and hollows out the one-China principle, steps up its official exchanges with Taiwan, and emboldens “Taiwan independence.””
It thus warned: “No country […] should ever misestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese Government […] to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation.”
In a similar vein, the CCP’s Taiwan Work Office declared: “The reunification of the motherland and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation have become a historical inevitability. China must be and will surely be reunified. This will not change regardless of the will of some die-hard anti-China forces from the U.S. side or the illusion of separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence.””
I told @JohnKingCNN that Speaker Pelosi’s visit to China's Taiwan region is a reckless & provocative move. It is a major event upgrading the substantive relations btw the US and Taiwan, & sends a very wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. https://t.co/PSlCnpjpjW
— Qin Gang 秦刚 (@AmbQinGang) August 2, 2022
Against this tense backdrop, the Chinese foreign ministry summoned US Ambassador Nicholas Burns, with Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng saying the US must be “held accountable” for “openly upgrading ties” with Taiwan by ramping up arms sales and “supporting separatist activities.” Like the CCP, he underscored, “Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland. Chinese people are not afraid of ghosts, pressure and the evil.”
Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian announced that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been placed on “high alert” and will undertake a “series of targeted military operations.”
To this end, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted a “series of joint military operations around the Taiwan Island” yesterday evening. Spokesperson Senior Col. Shi Yi, said that “naval-air joint drills will be carried out in the Northern, Southwestern and Southeastern waters and airspace off the Taiwan Island, long-range combat fire live shooting in the Taiwan Strait, and conventional missile firepower test launching in the waters off Eastern Taiwan Island.”
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry responded by saying, “The national army will definitely stick to its posts and protect national security.” It also called on citizens to “feel at ease.”
If the US insists on following the wrong course of action, then it should be responsible for any serious consequence arising thereof. pic.twitter.com/b4p5b1XodM
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) August 2, 2022
Taiwan’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, said Pelosi’s visit will “strengthen the close and friendly relationship” between Taiwan and the US and “further deepen cooperation […] in various fields.”
Pelosi’s visit was part of a broader trip to the Indo-Pacific, which included stops at Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. The several meetings are centred around “mutual security, economic partnership, and democratic governance.”
It was momentarily thought that Pelosi had backed down under escalating threats from China, given that her trip itinerary released on Sunday made no mention of Taiwan.