Picture : Twitter / ANI
Unfazed by China’s overt arm-flexing, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan on Tuesday evening local time, even though the visit was conspicuously missing from her official Asia tour itinerary.
Pelosi becomes the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan, which is claimed by China, in 25 years.
Beijing on Monday said it was keeping a close watch on her planned visit to Taiwan and warned of a resolute response by its military and strong countermeasures if she went ahead with the trip to Taipei. Soo after she landed she tweeted
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.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
Shortly after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday, she reaffirmed her country’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s democracy and said this trip in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy on the self-governed island.
Our delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy.
Our discussions with Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner & promote our shared interests, including advancing a free & open Indo-Pacific region.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
“Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan honours America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,” Pelosi said in a statement after arriving in Taiwan.
Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan – and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 2, 2022
“Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Indo-Pacific — including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance. Our discussions with Taiwan leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” she added.
Pelosi also expressed US solidarity with 23 million people of Taiwan in the face of the increasing threat from China.
#WATCH | US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taipei, Taiwan.
(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/cEgWZUbZ0m
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2022
“Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan — and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, US-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances. The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo,” she added.
