(Dan Tri) – US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, despite warnings of retaliation from China, is expected to further heat up US-China tensions over the Taiwan Strait issue.
Mrs. Nancy Pelosi (pink suit) with the US delegation at Tung Son airport, Taipei (Taiwan) on August 2 (Photo: AFP).
The image of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepping down from a special plane with the code SPAR19 has attracted the world’s attention due to fiery statements from both Washington and Beijing surrounding this trip.
Even during the 7-hour flight, the flight attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and caused the aviation tracking website FlightRadar24 to crash due to overload.
Immediately after Ms. Pelosi was in Taiwan, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the visit, saying it `seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously undermining the foundation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity`.
China also summoned the US Ambassador to protest this visit, and the country’s military immediately announced live-fire exercises in 6 seas and skies around Taiwan island on August 4-7.
Why did Mrs. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan inflame US-China tensions?
Ms. Pelosi became the highest-ranking official in the US to ever visit Taiwan in 25 years, since the visit of her predecessor Newt Gingrich in 1997. Ms. Pelosi is a Democrat, like US President Joe Biden.
However, Mr. Gingrich was a Republican and later served as Speaker of the House of Representatives under the administration of Democratic President Bill Clinton.
On August 1, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Truong Quan told reporters that Ms. Pelosi’s visit cannot be compared to Mr. Gingrich’s visit, and emphasized that `previous mistakes cannot be repeated.`
By the time Mr. Gingrich visited Taiwan in April 1997, China was focusing on other priorities.
More than 25 years later, China is now the world’s second largest economy, and possesses significantly improved military potential.
The timing of Ms. Pelosi’s visit also comes just months before the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which is expected to be held in November. Mr. Xi Jinping is said to be
US political position
America under President Joe Biden’s administration seems to be increasingly tense with China.
Recently, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, Washington frequently questioned Beijing’s stance on the conflict and also implemented economic sanctions on Chinese companies for their actions.
China retaliated with `tit-for-tat` sanctions against US companies, saying Washington should `stop meddling in Beijing’s internal affairs`.
Ms. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan will be the latest pressure point in relations between the two countries, but also an opportunity for Ms. Pelosi to attract political support and regain America’s position.
Ahead of this year’s US midterm elections, the Democratic Party faces the prospect of losing its majority in the House of Representatives.
Early last month, her plan to visit Taiwan received bipartisan support in Washington, including from Mr. Gingrich himself.
When coming to Taiwan, Ms. Pelosi also emphasized that this visit is absolutely not contrary to long-term US policy.
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