Nancy Pelosi’s travel to Taiwan is meant to demonstrate both support and legitimacy. The visit of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is notable for this reason. Taiwan views up to the United States, not China.
Taiwan needs American assistance, both military and non-military. But it yearns for acceptance. It yearns for acknowledgement that this is a proud country with its own democratic government and a commitment to maintain it that way, not some “renegade province,” as Beijing refers to it.The visit of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is notable for this reason. Taiwan views up to the United States, not China.
You can tell by the jubilant tone with which Taiwan’s numerous TV news outlets are covering Ms. Pelosi‘s arrival here.
They’ve scrutinized every detail of her appearance, including the color of her clothes, the height of her heels (which are extremely high for an 82-year-old), and the fact that she “looked like Audrey Hepburn in that photo of her with President John F. Kennedy back in 1961.”
In Taipei, the island’s capital, there is a raging Pelosi lovefest.
Throngs of people waited early outside Taiwan’s parliament to catch a glimpse of Ms. Pelosi as she emerged
On Wednesday, throngs of people waited early outside Taiwan’s parliament to catch a glimpse of Ms. Pelosi as she emerged. Almost everyone dismissed concerns about possible retaliation from China.
A female banker said, “We are familiar with the threats from China.” Overall, this trip will be beneficial for the advancement of US-Taiwan ties.
A 70-year-old guy declared, “China is bluffing.” Beijing may respond in the short term, but if it overreacts, the US will punish it.
A 50-year-old housewife told us, “China shouldn’t intimidate Taiwan like this.” “This trip is typical; if China keeps acting this way, more nations will turn against it.”
This journey is anything but ordinary for China
However, this journey is anything but ordinary for China. Beijing views it as a shocking transgression of diplomatic protocol.
Washington decided to stop recognizing the “other” Chinese government in Taipei when President Jimmy Carter recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1979.
For Beijing, it ought to be the conclusion of the dispute.However, America never really abandoned Taiwan. The idea that the US should defend this “plucky little democracy” against Chinese threats has only intensified as this island has gone from a military dictatorship to a thriving democracy.
Beijing will not be satisfied with simply expressing its displeasure with Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan
It is becoming more and more obvious that Beijing will not be content to express its rage at Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan only through words.
Concerningly, starting on Thursday and lasting for four days, there will be six significant exclusion zones throughout the island.
Beijing took the same action in 1996, the last time there was a “Taiwan Straits Crisis.” The exclusion zones, however, were all located beyond Taiwan’s territorial seas at that point.
Three of the six zones this time around cross Taiwan’s 12-mile boundary. That is unheard of. The action, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry, amounts to an air and sea blockade of the island and violates UN agreements.
If China moves ships or planes into such locations, it would be considered an invasion of Taiwanese land. This raises the stakes significantly since Taiwan may feel obligated to protect its own seas.
The US Navy is closely monitoring the situation and has already sent the USS Ronald Reagan carrier combat group in the Philippine Sea.
Ms Pelosi is now on her way to South Korea, but the consequences from her trip to Taiwan is likely to linger for some time – and might possibly escalate into a major US-China conflict.
