House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan went ahead as planned. She visited on Tuesday and flew out early today.
The visit included many meet-ups with leading Taiwanese officials and politicians. Pelosi was also given a high honor from the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen.
China threatened to shoot Pelosi and her entourage out of the sky if they visited, though did not do so. The leading Democrat departed the island nation without any skirmish. World war has been averted: for now.
Here’s what this visit means…
What Did Pelosi Do?
Basically what Pelosi and her team did was they went to Taiwan, got photographed a lot, toured some factories and sites, let her give a speech, and then left. The visit was purely symbolic.
She also made sure to kiss communist China’s boots by saying they’re the only “legitimate” government of the Chinese nation.
If that’s the case, then why go to Taiwan and accept an award from its president? How can there be two leaders of a nation? Is it Xi Jinping and his party or is it Tsai Ing-wen?
In any case, China itself did not attack as they threatened to, but said Pelosi’s whole visit was a “farce” and a ridiculous, offensive joke.
Beijing also said America is the world’s worst threat to peace and many other statements in the lead-up to the trip; so it’s not quite clear on their end whether America is a joke and a “farce” or a menacing threat … or both?
Our visit reiterates that America stands with Taiwan: a robust, vibrant democracy and our important partner in the Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/2sSRJXN6ST
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
Masked Pelosi Vows Solidarity
Saying that Washington “unequivocally” stands side by side with Taiwan, Pelosi emphasized the island nation can always count on American support and has the full weight of America behind it.
Around the same time, China was doing active fire drills in the region and also cut off various imported products from Taiwan as an angry gesture. Some of China’s drills are likely to cut into Taiwanese water, which China considers not to exist in the first place.
If Pelosi was really speaking literally here about the “unequivocal” support, she and Washington might be inclined to take China’s bait. Though as it is that is very unlikely to happen.
The trip was basically just a photo op and a way to look strong and linked up with allies, while also still giving the benefit of the doubt to China.
The strongest statement didn’t come from Pelosi anyway. It came from Tsai Ing-wen who said Taiwan will stand strong, “not back down,” and its “line of defense” against Chinese threats will be unbending.
Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is expected to cost tax payers over $90 million for security, allocation of US military presence, and more.
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All this for her to get a private tour of the Nvidia chip factory after she purchased millions in shares using insider info.
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Awesome.— Ian Smith (@iansmithfitness) August 2, 2022
What’s Next?
China has now moved the goalposts and says they won’t “allow” any more American visits by officials to Taiwan. Time will ultimately tell.
