Pelosi Taiwan visit: Beijing vows consequences if US politician travels to island

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s rumoured arrange for a trip to Taiwan has infuriated The far east and left the White House with a serious geopolitical headache. How big a problem are these claims?

China provides warned of “serious consequences” if Mrs Pelosi were to move forward with her go to.

Second in line to the presidency, Mrs Pelosi would be the highest ranking US politician to go to the island considering that 1997.

This rankles China, which views self-ruled Taiwan as being a breakaway province that must become a part of the nation. Beijing has not eliminated the possible utilization of force to achieve this.

Even the Biden administration provides reportedly tried to deter the California Democrat from going.

A week ago, President Joe Biden told reporters “the military thinks it’s not a good idea”, but his White Home has called Chinese language rhetoric against any such trip “clearly unhelpful and not necessary”.

The state department says Mrs Pelosi has not announced any travel and the US approach to Taiwan remains unchanged.

While the US maintains what exactly is calls a “robust, unofficial relationship” with Taiwan, it offers formal diplomatic connections with China, and not Taiwan.

Ms Pelosi’s trip, if it were to happen, also arrives amid increased tensions between Washington plus Beijing – plus ahead of a much anticipated phone call between US President Joe Biden and Chinese head Xi Jinping.

There is strong bipartisan support for Taiwan among the American open public and in the US Congress.

And over a congressional career spanning 35 years, Speaker Pelosi has been a vocal critic of China.

She gets denounced its individual rights record, fulfilled with pro-democracy dissidents, and also visited Tiananmen Square to memorialize victims of the 1989 massacre.

Mrs Pelosi’s original plan was to visit Taiwan within April, but it has been postponed after she tested positive intended for Covid-19.

She has dropped to discuss details of the trip, but mentioned last week that it was “important for us to show support for Taiwan”.

Beijing views Taiwan as its territory, and it has repeatedly raised the particular spectre of annexing it by force if necessary.

Chinese authorities have expressed frustration over what they watch as growing diplomatic engagement between Taipei and Washington. Including a surprise visit to the island by six US lawmakers in April.

On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned his country would take “firm and resolute measures” if Mrs Pelosi went ahead along with her visit.

“And the US will be responsible for all of the serious effects, ” he said.

A spokesman of the Chinese ministry of defence seemed to recommend there could even become a military response.

“If the US side insists on going ahead, the particular Chinese military will not sit idle and can take strong procedures to thwart any external interference plus separatist attempts designed for ‘Taiwan independence’, ” Colonel Tan Kefei told China Day-to-day.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes. BBC News, Taipei

If you are a little island state along with few allies, not really recognised by the United Nations, and threatened with invasion by a much bigger and more powerful neighbor, then getting a visit by the third most effective politician in the United States needs to be something you accepted. Right?

That’s why the Taiwanese government is just not about to tell the united states House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stay aside.

Taiwan’s Leader Tsai Ing-wen offers long called for higher level engagement with the US. But there is also concern about why Ms Pelosi is coming now, and whether her trip could do more damage than good.

Three times in the last yr President Joe Biden has said the US would certainly intervene to support Taiwan in the event of a Chinese language invasion, only to have his staff move back his remarks – insisting there is absolutely no change in US policy.

When news of Microsoft Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan was leaked, Leader Biden’s response was not to give his support – but instead to state, “the department associated with defence thinks a possibility a good idea”.

In Beijing appears like weakness. In Taipei it appears to be confusion. What exactly is the government policy towards the isle?

Ms Pelosi is now 82 and expected to retire in the autumn. Is she coming here with a clear intent to offer true support, or could it be a political stunt? It’s all very unclear.

At its celebration congress later this season, the Chinese Communist Party is set in order to re-elect Mr Xi to an unprecedented 3rd term as president.

President Biden : who last spoke with President Xi in March – has said they will talk over the phone again in the next few days, on the range of topics including Taiwan and other “issues of tension”.

The call comes as US authorities warn of a Chinese military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region and “aggressive and irresponsible behaviour” in the Southern China Sea.

The particular threats of retaliation over Mrs Pelosi’s visit have raised concerns over China’s possible response.

When then-US Health Secretary Alex Azar travelled to Taiwan within 2020, Chinese air flow force jets crossed over the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait – the narrow water between the island as well as its giant neighbour – within range of Taipei’s missiles.

Last week, the former editor of China’s state-run Global Moments newspaper suggested the “shocking military response” may be in store for Mrs Pelosi.

“If Pelosi visits Taiwan, [People’s Liberation Army] military aircraft may accompany Pelosi’s airplane to enter the isle, making a historic traversing of the island by military aircraft through mainland for the 1st time, ” Hu Xijin wrote.

Until now, Washington’s policy of “strategic ambiguity” has meant the US continues to be deliberately unclear about whether or exactly how it would defend Taiwan in the event of a large size attack on the tropical isle.