On Thursday, July 28, Joe Biden spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. It’s the first time in almost half a year he’s done so; it comes as there is growing talk of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan.
Taiwan is a close US ally that split off from China when it was taken over by communists in 1949. They are continually threatened by the mainland, who claims Taiwan must be “liberated” and reabsorbed into the mainland.
Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan is still uncertain with China warning of a severe response if she travels to the island. Though how did this trip leak anyway? Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas says he knows how it leaked.
If he is right, Biden absolutely should be impeached for trying to dangerously kneecap a high-ranking member of his own government and sabotage America on the world stage.
Cotton: This Leak Came From the Top
According to Cotton, he has reliable sources who tell him this leak came from the top. There’s no doubt Biden and the White House are obsessed with not upsetting China and want to maintain stable relations with the red dragon.
China said a visit from Pelosi would lead to retaliation. There’s no clear answer from Pelosi’s team on when she might visit or if it will still go ahead.
This is an especially tense time considering Washington and Beijing are at loggerheads over economics, minority rights and the status of Taiwan and its sovereignty.
In the past, Washington has sent powerful officials to Taiwan but nobody as prestigious as Pelosi.
Pelosi is the most powerful Democrat in Congress and second in line to executive power. Her visit is a very big deal.
Pelosi made opposition to China a key feature of her more than three decades in Congress; this is one area where she deserves credit from the right.
Although Biden does not have the authority to prevent Pelosi’s visit, China’s dictatorial regime has no respect for the separation of powers in the U.S., saying Pelosi must be stopped from going.
In Beijing’s perception, the fact they both belong to the Democrat Party reinforces the notion that Pelosi is somehow beholden to Biden’s thoughts on the matter.
Biden told reporters last week that U.S. military top brass felt the visit to Taiwan was ill-advised.
If this is accurate impeachment proceedings should commence immediately. The president undermining the national security & global stature of the nation. Un-fucking-believable. Unless your son is collecting all that sweet Chicom cash…..https://t.co/yvwfiKm8YE
— Stacey – Radical Federalism & Move the Lines Now (@ScotsFyre) July 31, 2022
Pelosi’s Past Plans
Pelosi initially intended to go on a trip to Taiwan next month. This was a reschedule of a trip she’d already had in the books for April but which was called off when Pelosi tested positive for COVID.
Will the August trip still go ahead as planned? Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre won’t say.
It’s worth noting here that Pelosi would be most powerful American official to visit Taiwan since former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did so in the late 1990s.
Washington provides significant military aid and weapons to Taiwan, which is one of the main focuses of tension in the relationship with Beijing.
The issue goes beyond party barriers in the U.S. Many Republicans have commended Pelosi for her intention to visit, saying China has no right to dictate where Americans can travel.
Donald Trump’s former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, even offered to accompany her.
This article appeared in FreshOffThePress and has been published here with permission.We cannot allow threats from Beijing to deter members of Congress from visiting Taiwan.
We must instead reaffirm our commitment to helping Taiwan defend itself against Chinese aggression. pic.twitter.com/tWJLg2cRc6
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) July 26, 2022
