Reportedly, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D) has officially made it to Taiwan despite the series of threats of retaliation issued from the Chinese Communist Party.
A plane that was said to be ferrying the House speaker landed on the island of Taiwan this past Wednesday, read a report from Fox News. She is the first speaker of the House to make the trip to Taiwan — an island that mainland China considers to be part of its territory — since the 1997 trip made by Newt Gingrich and this most recent visit has sparked a response from China to heavily increase its military presence in both the air and sea all around Taiwan.
“Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy,” explained Pelosi in a statement released directly after her arrival.
“Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Indo-Pacific — including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance,” she stated.
“Our discussions with Taiwan leadership 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.”
It was also noted by the Speaker of the house that her current visit is just one of “several Congressional delegations to Taiwan,” highlighting that it “in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy.”
“The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo,” she stated plainly.
The Chinese Communist Party has, on multiple occasions, issued a warning against such visits, and during a phone call carried out last Thursday, Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, stated to President Joe Biden that the United States should not “play with fire.”
“Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the U.S. will be clear-eyed about this,” threatened the Chinese President, as reported by Fox News.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also spoke out with threats in mid-July that stated that any such visits would “seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” continued with, “If the U.S. side obstinately clings to this course, China will definitely take resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States must be fully responsible for all the consequences caused by this.”
Biden stated to the gathered press back on the 20th of July that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now” for Pelosi to make her way to Taiwan. This past Monday, however, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby fired back against the notion that Pelosi was advised not to go, before concluding, “The speaker makes her own decisions.”The speaker makes her own decisions.”