Pelosi landed in Taiwan

teipei The video message was recorded hours before they landed. “Welcome to TP, Speaker Pelosi” was written on Taiwan’s tallest building, Taipei 101. And: “Taiwan loves USA.” At the same time, Chinese state television reported that Su-35 fighter planes were flying over the Taiwan Strait sea lane.

Despite threats from China, US leader Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Taiwan for a visit. On Tuesday afternoon (CEST), the Boeing C-40 Clipper, a military version of the Boeing 737-700C, landed with flight number SPAR19 in Taipei. Pelosi is scheduled to meet Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen there.

The stay of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives is the highest-ranking visit from the United States to the island’s democratic republic in a quarter of a century.

Upon her arrival, Pelosi pledged further support to Taiwan. “America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important than ever today as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy,” said the 82-year-old.

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She wrote in the Washington Post: “We cannot stand by while the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP threatens Taiwan – and democracy itself. We reaffirm that the freedoms of Taiwan—and all democracies—must be respected.”

Tensions with China had already intensified in the run-up to the event. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. It firmly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei.

After landing, the country reacted immediately and announced maneuvers with target practice in six sea areas around the democratic island republic. According to state television, the Ministry of Defense in Beijing announced that the maneuvers will begin this Tuesday and should last until Sunday.

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing spoke of a “very dangerous game with fire”. China will “take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Video wall in Taipei

Welcome message for the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in the Taiwanese capital.

(Photo: dpa)

The 82-year-old Democrat had received criticism for her travel plans in the West in the past few days, even from US President Joe Biden, like Pelosi a Democrat. Pelosi’s visit is considered high-risk with little direct benefit, and given the violent reactions from Beijing, the trip has become a showdown with China.

Biden himself could not stop Pelosi and referred to the American constitution. As part of the separation of powers, Pelosi is allowed to decide where to travel and where not, regardless of the president’s will – an argument that the Chinese government found little understanding.

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Pelosi’s presence signals support for Taiwan’s course. Upon landing, she said her visit underscored the “US unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.” “America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important now than ever as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”

The majority of the 23 million Taiwanese have long considered themselves independent and at least want to preserve the status quo. Relations between Taiwan and China have deteriorated since Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in 2016.

Taipei

Supporters hold a large welcome banner in front of the hotel where Speaker of the US House of Representatives Pelosi will be accommodated.

(Photo: dpa)

The president’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party, sees Taiwan as de facto independent. But she refrains from an official declaration of independence because China has defined that as a possible reason for an attack. Xi Jinping sees a “unification” with Taiwan as a “historic mission” that he intends to accomplish during his tenure, if necessary by force.

The position of the US government on the Taiwan issue has recently been contradictory: Biden had declared three times that he wanted to assist Taiwan in a military conflict with China, most recently in May. Each time, his staff later put the president’s statements into perspective.

Officially, the American position is based on “strategic ambiguity”: Washington does not commit itself. And the White House does not want Biden’s statements to be understood as a change in its official position.

Taiwan – one of the most dangerous trouble spots in the world

The visit of Pelosi, a longtime China critic, comes at a politically sensitive time for Chinese leaders. Xi is expected to begin a third term at the party congress in the fall, contrary to Chinese political practice of a maximum of two terms of five years each to avoid abuse of power.

Recently, however, criticism of Xi has also increased in China. Above all, sticking to the zero-Covid strategy, which causes great economic damage, is increasingly being questioned.

The question must also be asked to what extent the state leadership will use Pelosi’s visit in the run-up to the party congress “in a nationalist manner,” says Jörg Wuttke, head of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. It may be about “creating a background noise to distract from economic problems”.

Taiwanese soldiers at a military exercise

Taiwan has long been preparing for a possible Chinese attack.

(Photo: Reuters)

However, he also expressed a lack of understanding about the timing of the trip in the run-up to the party congress in autumn. There’s no need to “pick the dragon in the eye,” he said. This does not help Taiwan either. Wuttke expects “a lot of steam” in the context of the visit, but not with an escalation.

However, the visit will severely strain the already difficult relationship between the USA and China. Shi Yinhong, an international relations expert at Renmin University, warned in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper, “The likelihood of an unintended conflict has increased significantly.”

Apparently as a warning to Washington, China’s military conducted live ammunition maneuvers near Taiwan on Saturday. On Tuesday, China’s People’s Liberation Army increased the threat with maneuvers, target practice, military aircraft and warships near Taiwan and the closure of sea areas.

Videos circulating on China’s social media on Tuesday allegedly showed numerous armored vehicles on the beach in the coastal city of Xiamen. Chinese warships and planes are said to have “pressed” the so-called center line, an unusual move that has been described as “very provocative”. Taiwan’s military has stepped up its operational readiness, as reported by the CNA news agency.

Pelosi is getting support for her visit to Taiwan from the Republicans of all people. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton noted that senators and congressmen, though not in leadership positions like Pelosi, do travel to Taiwan regularly and maintain close ties with the government. “We have to make it clear to Xi Jinping that we are not backing down,” Cotton told CNBC on Tuesday.

Former ministers also stood by Pelosi, which only adds to the heat in the US a few months before the important congressional elections. Mike Pompeo, Trump’s secretary of state, and Mark Esper, Trump’s defense secretary, would have preferred to accompany Pelosi to Taiwan, as they confirmed in advance.

More: The turning point – from the rule of law to the law of the stronger


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