She's not doing Taiwan or herself any favour.
Biden's approval rating falling further.
Her role as speaker is ending.
https://youtu.be/Dcm4wLNV6Jg
(03-08-2022, 03:13 PM)Teeth53 Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.thinkchina.sg/taiwan-likely-...osis-visit
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is enroute to Taiwan for a visit that has kept the Biden administration and both sides of the Taiwan Strait on tenterhooks in past weeks. Whatever happens next, the people of Taiwan may be on the losing end. Taiwanese commentator Chen Kuohsiang explains the implications.
(03-08-2022, 03:14 PM)Teeth53 Wrote: [ -> ]US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is enroute to Taiwan for a visit that has kept the Biden administration and both sides of the Taiwan Strait on tenterhooks in past weeks. Whatever happens next, the people of Taiwan may be on the losing end. Taiwanese commentator Chen Kuohsiang explains the implications.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Asia tour can be considered her “grad trip”. Logically, a strong finish would be good enough, but she wants a happy ending, insisting on visiting Taiwan. The US and Chinese foreign and defence ministries have been in close contact, while US President Joe Biden has spoken publicly and also spoken on the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but the “will she, won’t she” suspense over Pelosi’s possible visit has captured global attention.
... there are many who feel this is unnecessary and worry that Taiwan might go from playing host to being the victim.
Pelosi is a real master of hype, playing up her itinerary while the people of Taiwan wait with bated breath. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is conducting live firing exercises in the Taiwan Strait, while Chinese and foreign experts assess that China might send military aircraft to block or “accompany” Pelosi’s aircraft to enter Taiwan airspace. US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is also moving towards Taiwan from the South China Sea; with both sides poised, the Taiwanese are nervous.
Biden’s bind
Biden is in a dilemma. Agreeing for her to visit would mean having to deal with the consequences; not allowing it would lead to criticism of being weak. Asked about Pelosi’s Taiwan trip at a press conference, he said: “The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now.” This shows that Biden knows Pelosi wants to visit Taiwan and that China might send military aircraft to block it.
(03-08-2022, 03:13 PM)Teeth53 Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.thinkchina.sg/taiwan-likely-...osis-visit
While the US and China are tussling, Taiwan has no room to speak up. Tsai Ing-wen’s administration would be glad of Pelosi coming to show warmth and support, but there are many who feel this is unnecessary and worry that Taiwan might go from playing host to being the victim.
... the people of Taiwan are still worried about whether Pelosi’s playing with fire might lead to Taiwan catching fire.
(03-08-2022, 03:31 PM)Teeth53 Wrote: [ -> ]While the US and China are tussling, Taiwan has no room to speak up. Tsai Ing-wen’s administration would be glad of Pelosi coming to show warmth and support, but there are many who feel this is unnecessary and worry that Taiwan might go from playing host to being the victim.
... the people of Taiwan are still worried about whether Pelosi’s playing with fire might lead to Taiwan catching fire.
While the Biden-Xi phone call was inconclusive on this, the fact that both parties discussed a possible face-to-face meeting suggests that they avoided a showdown on Pelosi’s potential Taiwan visit.
From China’s perspecti. it is not the right time to have a showdown with Beijing, particularly since the war in Ukraine is still raging and the US cannot afford to stir up more trouble. Besides, Pelosi’s potential Taiwan visit was not a game plan initiated by the executive branch. It has in fact created disruptions and some problems.
... even if the government is aware that such a move is neither constructive nor holds any strategic value, it does not dare to go against public opinion.
The Pandora’s box of Pelosi’s visit...
While the US is on the attack, the power to order the first serve does not exactly lie with the executive. Amid falling approval ratings, Biden does not want to be seen as a coward. When White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked about the military threat that Pelosi’s Asia tour might pose, he honestly said that there was no need to “to spark some sort of crisis or conflict” because of a potential visit and escalate matters because “nothing has changed” about the US’s “one China” policy.
Since the policy remains unchanged, if the House Speaker who is second in line to the presidency really visits Taiwan, what new message would this be sending? Such an unnecessary visit would be difficult to justify. However, amid strong anti-China sentiment in the US, even if the government is aware that such a move is neither constructive nor holds any strategic value, it does not dare to go against public opinion.
... if American politicians truly have Taiwan’s interests at heart, they should be extra careful and not aggravate the CCP unnecessarily.
After all, no matter who wins or loses in the end, Taiwan is likely to become the biggest loser.
(03-08-2022, 03:13 PM)Teeth53 Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.thinkchina.sg/taiwan-likely-...osis-visit
Given Pelosi’s character and the US’s political climate, Pelosi was not ready to take heed of the executive branch’s considerations and difficulties, or bear the risks of softening her stance. She insisted on not thinking the worst and decided to boldly visit Taiwan, which could test the bottom line of Beijing’s tolerance of the US’s pro-Taiwan moves.
In fact, both countries are testing each other’s bottom lines with this potential visit. This is a battle of wills and military might. The world generally does not want to see a showdown in the Taiwan Strait between two great powers over a head of public opinion, and while the Taiwanese are glad to receive Pelosi, they too do not wish to see a US-China military conflict being ignited because of this. After all, no matter who wins or loses in the end, Taiwan is likely to become the biggest loser.
A possible visit by number three top politician and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, which could have triggered a direct military conflict between China and the US, Taiwan was thrust into the spotlight.
Amid the political-military tug of war between China and the US, Taiwan was relegated to a supporting actor role with little say on the visit. It has in fact become a runway for the great powers to flex their muscles.
China’s stern warnings
https://www.thinkchina.sg/taiwan-runway-...ir-muscles
Actually if China attack TW also good. At least teach the Taiwanese that sucking angmo coks can get killed.