chinese leader Xi Jinpingspecifically asked his American counterpart, Joe Bidenwhich would prevent the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosivisit Taiwan. The call happened last July 28 to warn of the risk of possible retaliation by Beijing in that territory. The conversation was described by a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The response was clear from Biden, who explained to the top Chinese leader that Congress was independent authority and that Pelosi has the right to make her own decisions about her foreign travel. In addition, according to the official, the US president has also warned Xi Jinping about this not to take provocative and coercive measures if he finally makes the trip.
However, while Biden has defended Pelosi’s right to visit the island, senior US officials have expressed deep concern about the trip, according to multiple White House officials. Months earlier, the United States had seen signs of this China was preparing “unprecedented” military activity in the Taiwan Strait. For this reason, some government leaders believed that Beijing would use Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for action.
[Dragón contra Halcón: la desigual batalla de cazas en la que China arrasaría a Taiwán en el aire]
American officials were also concerned about geopolitical relations between the two countries and what Pelosi’s visit might provoke, since shortly before Xi Jinping was trying to secure a third term “without major confrontations.”
But despite all these warnings from the Department of Defense, the US Indo-Pacific Command and White House national security officials, Pelosi went ahead with the trip. This provoked an unprecedented military response by China against Taiwan. These maneuvers included launching missiles at the island and the waters surrounding it, where some shells hit Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
internal inconsistencies
Pelosi’s visit, which some analysts criticized as a move to extend her legacy, frustrated administration officials and sparked the tension between her and the Speaker of the House of Representativesresponsible for delivering the President’s legislative agenda.
The White House officials’ arguments, however, did not sway Pelosi. The administration warned him that China would likely step up its actions in the region regardless after his visit. But Pelosi defended the trip as necessary show support for taiwan, as well as democracy versus autocracy, and sent a message to critics who said he was focusing on his legacy. In addition, Taiwanese officials also clarified that they are I look forward to Pelosi’s visit and welcomed his arrival with fanfare.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at a conference call on August 12.
Reuters
“Support for avoiding Taiwan’s isolation and maintaining the status quo is bipartisan and bicameral,” Pelosi said in a statement to The Washington Post. “This respect for Taiwan and the non-acceptance of violence is shared by the presidentas evidenced by his recent statements,” he added.
“Any attack against me is not about the president, but about some small anonymous voices in the administration who they compromised the security of our visit through travel expiration,” Pelosi said.
more tension between the two
China’s expected reaction to Pelosi’s visit prompted intense diplomatic activity by the White House and State Department to reassure allies that The United States did not want a conflict with China. Administration officials have assured allies in the region that they will not respond in kind to Beijing’s military exercises.
[La venganza de China: ¿un bloqueo de suministros para que te quedes sin móvil?]
But the trip has created other challenges in US-China relations, which are already at one of their lowest points. China claimed that will cancel or suspend dialogue with the United States on issues such as climate change, military relations and counter-narcotics efforts. The White House says China is punishing the world by stalling climate talks, including the most vulnerable nations in the Indo-Pacific.