[Teeth53]

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.