Thread: Biden says U.S. willing to use force to defend Taiwan prompting backlash from China

worth repeating

Originally Posted by Norton

Nancy is telling China she will travel where the fuck she wants.

Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say - CNNPolitics

____________

Nancy Pelosi - Our delegation met with Singapore’s Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

In our meeting, our Members saluted Singapore’s commitment to a free & open Indo-Pacific & advancing security & stability in the region. We also learned about Singapore’s efforts to address the climate crisis. https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/st...49967882862595

Nancy Pelosi: https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi

August 1, 2022 by M. K. BHADRAKUMAR

China is still playing the long game on Taiwan

Mao Zedong (L) shakes hands with US President Richard Nixon on weeklong visit to China in Feb 1972 in a historic strategic overture

"The tame ending of the saga of Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan leaves many intriguing loose ends, although the world is lucky that she didn’t choose to test the authenticity of the Chinese rhetoric.

Speaking of authenticity, however, a good case can be made that it was President Biden and Pelosi who might have been actually grandstanding. After all, Pelosi is entitled to top secret government briefings and would have had no doubt that it was far too risky for her to visit Taiwan at the present juncture of both heightened tensions in US-China relations as well as a complicated international environment centred around the conflict in Ukraine.

Furthermore, doesn’t Pelosi enjoy easy access to Biden? They go back a long way in politics. But, apparently, in this case, they preferred using megaphone. It stretches credulity.

The big question is, what is the real purpose behind such brouhaha over a contrived setting? Three things come to mind. First and foremost, Washington has tested Beijing’s cheekiness to seize the Ukraine conflict as a window of opportunity to annex Taiwan. Although China has repeatedly affirmed that the two situations — Ukraine and Taiwan — have nothing in common, Beijing’s intentions have been under close scrutiny in the US.

Frankly, therefore, the denouement is not wholly convincing — Pelosi’s apparent decision to stand down. The New York Times still insists that “administration officials say they now expect (Pelosi) will include a stop in Taiwan, despite China’s increasingly sharp warnings in recent days that a visit to the self-governing island would provoke a response, perhaps a military one.” Interestingly, Global Times also does not exclude such a possibility — “It is still possible that Pelosi wants to make a risky and dangerous move by trying to land at a Taiwan airport…”

The only logical conclusion out of empirical evidence is that left to itself, Beijing is not looking for an alibi to invade Taiwan, but fundamentally adheres to its stated policy of “peaceful reunification.” That said, Washington was effectively left in no doubt that Beijing was issuing much the same “red line” warnings that Moscow also had issued about Ukraine, which the Biden Administration decided to ignore.

Beijing prefers to believe, though, that Pelosi’s change of plan “could be a result of communication” between her and the White House, the Pentagon and the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Second, China also chooses to believe that President Xi Jinping’s stern warning to President Biden during their phone conversation — ‘those who play with fire will perish by it’ — impacted Biden profoundly, which means that the latter ought to know that he has to exercise caution when it comes to Taiwan.

In a conversation of two hours and 20 minutes, Biden and Xi would have discussed issues at some length. Yet, despite the tensions rising to a crescendo, the Chinese readout conveyed an appreciable degree of satisfaction.

The senior US official in the White House who gave a background press call also concluded saying, “the two leaders very specifically tasked their teams to follow up on a number of these areas. There was an exchange at the end about how much work they’d created for their teams in terms of following up on the specific pieces, and again, a conversation about a face-to-face meeting being worked out between the teams.

“So I would say that… there was very much a clear, affirmative agenda that was put forward and agreed to… by the leaders for the teams to work toward. that’s a really important piece to keep in mind that was, frankly, a pretty significant part of the conversation today.”

What assurances, if any, Biden held out to Xi we do not know. Without question, the main outcome of the call is that the door opens “to follow up to find a mutually agreeable time” for a face-to-face meeting between Biden and Xi. Conceivably, such a meeting may suit Biden before the US mid-term elections. However, from the Chinese side, there has been no indication — so far at least — regarding a possible meeting between Xi and Biden.

The senior US official conspicuously played down the “direct and honest conversation” between Biden and Xi regarding Taiwan issue, and detailed how the phone call was “in the works for quite some time” before National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan proposed the idea to Yang Jiechi at their meeting in Luxembourg on June 13.

Finally, the geopolitical context cannot be overlooked. All the bravado notwithstanding, the US is in no position to fight a war with China today. On the contrary, it is certainly not Beijing’s game plan to seize Taiwan by force when things are going so well for its strategy of peaceful unification. The pressure is really on Washington, as the US’ decline and the shift in relative comprehensive national power vis-a-vis China may only become more pronounced with the passage of time.

Within the US itself, even hawkish opinion-makers on China criticised Pelosi’s move. Former President Donald Trump was devastating: “Why is Nancy Pelosi getting involved with China and Taiwan other than to make trouble and more money, possibly involving insider trading and information, for her cheatin’ husband?

“Everything she touches turns to Chaos, Disruption, and ‘Crap’… the China mess is the last thing she should be involved in — she will only make it worse. Crazy Nancy just inserts herself and causes great friction and hatred. She is such a mess!”

To be sure, given the recession and the spectre of economic collapse, and the political turmoil that may ensue, none of the US’ European allies (including the UK) is enthusiastic today about a war with China. The Biden Administration is in no position to rally their support for what would have to be a far more punishing sanctions regime against China.

In fact, the US will face complete isolation in the international community for precipitating such a risky misadventure that could bring the roof down on the world economy. China is an engine of growth for the world economy.

In retrospect, the Taiwanese-American journalist Brian Hioe had an interesting “take” when he told Amy Goodman at Democracy Now! in an interview last Wednesday that it is a “a very good question” as to how the authorities in Taipei are reacting to the seamless speculations as to how such a contrived standoff with China over Taiwan with no rational end in view, as a spinoff from the disarray in US domestic politics.

Brian Hioe said: “I think what is noteworthy is the Tsai administration has not made a politically strong statement on the possibilities of the visit… Tsai administration would actually play it low-key… How much of a red carpet will be rolled out for Pelosi? I don’t know.” Taipei probably anticipated that it could as well turn out to be a non-event."

https://www.indianpunchline.com/chin...ame-on-taiwan/

She’s getting closer

Pelosi Statement on Congressional Delegation Visit to Malaysia

AUGUST 2, 2022

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the Congressional delegation's visit to Malaysia:

“Today, our Congressional delegation was honored to be received by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and Foreign Minister Saifuddin. We engaged in wide-ranging discussion on advancing our shared goals for a free and secure Indo-Pacific.

“The Prime Minister’s meeting followed an inter-parliamentary exchange presided over by Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament Azhar Harun. The discussion included security challenges, economic opportunities and governance priorities.

“In each of our meetings, we extended an appreciation for Malaysia’s vote at the United Nations on Russia’s aggression and their leadership in ASEAN on repudiating Burma for its deadly crackdown on dissent.

“Our governance conversations centered on integrity in government, addressing the climate crisis and fighting COVID.

“We agreed to continue collaborating on our shared security interests, economic priorities, trade, human trafficking and climate issues.

“The visit was very productive, and we thank Ambassador Brian D. McFeeters and the Embassy staff for making it so.”

____________

Nancy Pelosi - After our Congressional delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur, we met with the U.S. Marine detachment at @USEmbassyKL

We proudly expressed the thanks of the Congress and our Country for the selfless service of our men and women in uniform.

Nancy Pelosi - Our visit reiterates that America stands with Taiwan: a robust, vibrant democracy and our important partner in the Indo-Pacific. https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/st...96902812602370

US Navy deploys warships east of Taiwan ahead of Pelosi ‘trip’

Washington Post Op-Ed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi Why I’m leading a congressional delegation to Taiwan

AUGUST 2, 2022

Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, is speaker of the House of Representatives.

Some 43 years ago, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed — and President Jimmy Carter signed into law — the Taiwan Relations Act, one of the most important pillars of U.S. foreign policy in the Asia Pacific.

The Taiwan Relations Act set out America’s commitment to a democratic Taiwan, providing the framework for an economic and diplomatic relationship that would quickly flourish into a key partnership. It fostered a deep friendship rooted in shared interests and values: self-determination and self-government, democracy and freedom, human dignity and human rights.

And it made a solemn vow by the United States to support the defense of Taiwan: “to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means … a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.”

Today, America must remember that vow. We must stand by Taiwan, which is an island of resilience. Taiwan is a leader in governance: currently, in addressing the covid-19 pandemic and championing environmental conservation and climate action. It is a leader in peace, security and economic dynamism: with an entrepreneurial spirit, culture of innovation and technological prowess that are envies of the world.

Yet, disturbingly, this vibrant, robust democracy — named one of the freest in the world by Freedom House and proudly led by a woman, President Tsai Ing-wen — is under threat.

In recent years, Beijing has dramatically intensified tensions with Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has ramped up patrols of bombers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft near and even over Taiwan’s air defense zone, leading the U.S. Defense Department to conclude that China’s army is “likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force.”

The PRC has also taken the fight into cyberspace, launching scores of attacks on Taiwan government agencies each day. At the same time, Beijing is squeezing Taiwan economically, pressuring global corporations to cut ties with the island, intimidating countries that cooperate with Taiwan, and clamping down on tourism from the PRC.

In the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) accelerating aggression, our congressional delegation’s visit should be seen as an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner, as it defends itself and its freedom.

Our visit — one of several congressional delegations to the island — in no way contradicts the long-standing one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances. The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo.

Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Pacific — including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance. Our discussions with our Taiwanese partners will focus on reaffirming our support for the island and promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. America’s solidarity with Taiwan is more important today than ever — not only to the 23 million people of the island but also to millions of others oppressed and menaced by the PRC.

Thirty years ago, I traveled in a bipartisan congressional delegation to China, where, in Tiananmen Square, we unfurled a black-and-white banner that read, “To those who died for democracy in China.” Uniformed police pursued us as we left the square. Since then, Beijing’s abysmal human rights record and disregard for the rule of law continue, as President Xi Jinping tightens his grip on power.

The CCP’s brutal crackdown against Hong Kong’s political freedoms and human rights — even arresting Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen — cast the promises of “one-country, two-systems” into the dustbin. In Tibet, the CCP has long led a campaign to erase the Tibetan people’s language, culture, religion and identity. In Xinjiang, Beijing is perpetrating genocide against Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities. And throughout the mainland, the CCP continues to target and arrest activists, religious-freedom leaders and others who dare to defy the regime.

We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan — and democracy itself.

Indeed, we take this trip at a time when the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy. As Russia wages its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine, killing thousands of innocents — even children — it is essential that America and our allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats.

When I led a congressional delegation to Kyiv in April — the highest-level U.S. visit to the besieged nation — I conveyed to President Volodymyr Zelensky that we admired his people’s defense of democracy for Ukraine and for democracy worldwide.

By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be respected.

Much ado about nothing.

I can't understand why the President shouldn't have the final say on this trip? A British, Canadian, or Aussie P.M. would never allow a final decision related to foreign policy to be made by any less than the leader of the country. This is a strange 'division of power'. Only in America I guess.

I don't believe for one moment that any of this is going to precipitate a war.

Reuters reports she has safely arrived in Taiwan.

"With tensions already high, several Chinese warplanes flew close to the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morningbefore leaving later in the day, a source told Reuters."

August 2, 2022 11:01 PM GMT+7Last Updated 3 min ago

Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, voicing U.S. 'solidarity' as China fumes

By Yimou Lee

and Sarah Wu

• Chinese warplanes buzz Taiwan Strait dividing line
• U.S. House speaker's visit has enraged Beijing
• Beijing insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of China

TAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) -

"U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday on a trip she said was intended to express American solidarity with the Chinese-claimed island, the first such visit in 25 years and one that risks pushing relations between Washington and Beijing to a new low.

Pelosi and her delegation disembarked from a U.S. Air Force transport plan at Songshan Airport in downtown Taipei and were greeted by Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu and Sandra Oudkirk, the top U.S. representative in Taiwan.

"Our congressional delegation's visit to Taiwan honors America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant democracy," Pelosi said in a statement shortly after landing. "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."

China immediately condemned Pelosi's visit, with the foreign ministry saying it seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The ministry said it had lodged a strong protest with the United States.

Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday before her arrival, and Chinese state media said People's Liberation Army would hold exercises near Taiwan from Thursday through Sunday.

Pelosi, who is second in the line of succession to the U.S. presidency and a long-time critic of Beijing, was on a tour of Asia that includes announced visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Her stop in Taiwan had not been announced but had been widely anticipated.

In a Washington Post opinion piece released shortly after she landed, Pelosi outlined her reasons for visiting, praising Taiwan's commitment to democratic government while criticizing China as having dramatically increased tensions with Taiwan in recent years.
"We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan - and democracy itself," Pelosi said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

Pelosi also cited China's "brutal crackdown" against political dissent in Hong Kong, as well as its treatment of Muslim Uighurs and other minorities, which the United States has deemed genocide.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier on Tuesday that U.S. politicians who "play with fire" on the Taiwan issue will "come to no good end".
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said after Pelosi's arrival that the United States "is not going to be intimidated" by threats or bellicose rhetoric from China. Kirby said the visit is not a violation of either any sovereignty issues or America's longstanding "one-China policy."

"There's no reason for this visit to become a spurring event for a crisis or conflict," Kirby added.

Taiwan's presidential office said President Tsai Ing-wen will meet with Pelosi on Wednesday morning and would have lunch with her. Four sources said she was also scheduled on Wednesday afternoon to meet a group of activists who are outspoken about China's human rights record.

Pelosi, 82, is a close ally of U.S. President Joe Biden, both being members of the Democratic Party, and has been a key figure in guiding his legislative agenda through the U.S. Congress.

On Tuesday night, Taiwan's tallest building, Taipei 101, lit up with messages including: "Welcome to Taiwan", "Speaker Pelosi", "Taiwan (heart) USA".

With tensions already high, several Chinese warplanes flew close to the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morning before leaving later in the day, a source told Reuters. Several Chinese warships have also sailed near the unofficial dividing line since Monday and remained there, the source said.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi waves after attending a meeting with Malaysia's Parliament Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun at Malaysian Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2, 2022. Malaysian Department of Information/Nazri Rapaai/Handout via

The Chinese aircraft repeatedly conducted tactical moves of briefly "touching" the median line and circling back to the other side of the strait while Taiwanese aircraft were on standby nearby, the person said.

Neither side's aircraft normally cross the median line.

Four U.S. warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, were positioned in waters east of Taiwan on what the U.S. Navy called routine deployments. The carrier had transited the South China Sea and was now in the Philippines Sea, east of Taiwan and the Philippines and south of Japan, a U.S. Navy official told Reuters.

It was operating with the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam and destroyer USS Higgins, with the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli also in the area.
Since last week, China's PLA has conducted various exercises, including live-fire drills, in the South China Sea, Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, in a show of Chinese military might.

China views visits by U.S. officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the democratic, self-governed island. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide the island's future.

The United States has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by American law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

'STATE PROVOCATEUR'

Russia - itself locked in confrontation with the West over its invasion of Ukraine - also chimed in on Pelosi's expected visit. Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said the visit was a provocative U.S. attempt to pile pressure on China, a country with which Russia has forged a strong partnership in recent years.
"The USA is a state provocateur," Zakharova said. "Russia confirms the principle of 'one China' and opposes the independence of the island in any form."

Earlier on Tuesday, Pelosi visited Malaysia, having begun her Asia tour in Singapore on Monday. Her office said she would also go to South Korea and Japan but made no mention of a Taiwan visit.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it had a full grasp of military activities near Taiwan and that it would dispatch forces appropriately in reaction to "enemy threats".

China's defence and foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment.

In the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, which lies opposite Taiwan and has a large military presence, residents reported sightings of armoured vehicles.

During a phone call last Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Biden that Washington should abide by the one-China principle and "those who play with fire will perish by it". Biden told Xi that U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed and that Washington strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Bonnie Glaser, a Taiwan expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told reporters in a call that the damage to American-Chinese relations done by the Pelosi visit would be hard to repair.

"We all know how bad this relationship has been in the past year. And I just think that this visit by Nancy Pelosi is just going to take it to a new low," Glaser said. "And I think that it's going to be very difficult to recover from that."

Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, voicing U.S. '''solidarity''' as China fumes | Reuters

The world keeps turning.

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

Much ado about nothing.

I can't understand why the President shouldn't have the final say on this trip? A British, Canadian, or Aussie P.M. would never allow a final decision related to foreign policy to be made by any less than the leader of the country. This is a strange 'division of power'. Only in America I guess.

I don't believe for one moment that any of this is going to precipitate a war.

Russia doing exercises on the border of Ukraine was nothing too. Until it wasn't. Taiwan is a guaranteed war within the decade. Unless China wants to be known as the biggest cuck in history. There is not an iota of room between the sides. The US will think its only time is now.

China should not have made the public threats if it wasn't going to carry out with them. They are still making threats right now.

Should China just let the US dock aircraft carriers on Taiwan next ?

Originally Posted by malmomike77

In a statement, the ministry said Pelosi's visit "seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Her visit per se does not but China's reaction is fully expected. Taiwan and it's independant form of government is deeply rooted in the DNA of the communist party as an unfinished conclusion of it's Mao led civil war which resulted in the relocation of the ROC from the mainland in 1949.

Hence, Xi is forced to make a strong response to appease members of the CCP. The guys that keep him in power. The degree of China's response is yet to be determined but doubt a serious attempt to invade will happen even though China percieves the US is operationally shifting away from it's One China agreement.

Although Pelosi, as the leader of the house, has the right to visit Taiwan I don't think it is a smart move. Certainly not helping the dismal state of current US/China relations.

Folks in Taiwan are split over her visit but most support it. Spoke with an old friend in Taiwan yesterday. He said all the war talk doesn't bother him. He is used to it as it has been going on for years. Nothing new here.