(The Hill) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, capping off days of hypothesis concerning whether or not or not the third-highest official in the U.S. authorities would go to the self-governing island amid criticism from China.
Pelosi’s arrival in Taipei was broadcast on main tv networks. It is her newest cease on a days-long journey to Asia with a congressional delegation.
The Speaker confirmed the go to in a press release shortly after she landed.
“Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy,” Pelosi stated in a press release.
“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. 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,” she added.
Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan got here regardless of warnings from China urging the Speaker in opposition to touring to the island.
Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said a go to from Pelosi to Taiwan would “seriously violate” the “one-China” coverage, including that “China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity” if Pelosi finally visited.
Taiwan will not be acknowledged as unbiased by China. Instead, Beijing views the self-governing island as territory that’s ready to be reunified with China.
Some in the Biden administration have been additionally against Pelosi visiting Taiwan. President Biden instructed reporters final month that the U.S. army “thinks it’s not a good idea right now” when requested concerning the Speaker’s potential go to to the territory.
In an op-ed published in The Washington Post proper after she landed in Taiwan, Pelosi laid out why she led the congressional delegation to the territory.
“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,” Pelosi wrote.
“We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan — and democracy itself,” she wrote.
“By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be respected,” she added.
Pelosi additionally famous that the go to “in no way contradicts the long-standing One China policy,” which is the U.S. place that acknowledges Taiwan as being a part of China.
Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. official to journey to Taiwan since 1997, when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) touched down in the territory. Pelosi beforehand visited Taiwan in 1999, however she was not a congressional chief on the time.
Pelosi on Tuesday was joined by Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.).
The go to was shortly applauded by Pelosi’s Republican colleagues. In a statement issued proper after she landed, a bunch of 26 GOP senators, together with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), stated they assist the journey.Georgians can claim an embryo as a dependent on tax returnsRepublicans look for escape hatch amid controversy on veterans bill
“We support Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan,” the group of Republicans wrote. “For decades, members of the United States Congress, including previous Speakers of the House, have travelled to Taiwan. This travel is consistent with the United States’ One China policy to which we are committed. We are also committed now, more than ever, to all elements of the Taiwan Relations Act.”
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