US delegation visit honors Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, says US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

TAIPEI: Shortly after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday, she reaffirmed her country’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s democracy, and the visit in no way contradicts long-standing U.S. policy toward autonomous islands. “The visit of our congressional delegation to Taiwan honors the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,” Pelosi said in a statement after arriving in Taiwan.

“Our visit is part of a broader trip to the Indo-Pacific, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, focused on mutual security, economic partnerships and democratic governance. The discussion is about advancing our common interests, including the advancement of our partners and a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” she added. Pelosi also expressed US solidarity with Taiwan’s 23 million people in the face of growing threats from China. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, raising tensions with China.

“Our visit was one of several congressional delegations to Taiwan and in no way contradicted long-standing U.S. policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the U.S.-China Joint Communiqué, and the Six Guarantees. No. The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo,” she added.

Pelosi’s plane landed in Taiwan amid growing security threats from China. Beijing has warned the US that it will “pay the price” if Pelosi visits Taiwan, the largest number of US visits in more than 20 years.

China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference in Beijing, “All I can say is that the United States must definitely take responsibility and pay a price that undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests.” That’s it,’ he said. We will take measures accordingly.

Ahead of Pelosi’s visit, the Chinese military said it would conduct live-fire exercises off the coast in one of the narrowest spots in the Taiwan Strait. A spokesperson for the Chinese Air Force said it would send fighter jets around Taiwan as a demonstration of its ability to defend its sovereignty, but did not give a specific timing.

On Monday, U.S. National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said the U.S. chairman had the right to visit Taiwan and that her visit would not be “uncommon.” It’s not unprecedented, it’s nothing new,” Kirby said, adding, “The Chair did not confirm travel plans and it is the Chair and her staff’s responsibility to do so.”

Since the U.S. House Speaker’s visit to Taiwan was reported last month, Beijing has warned that it will respond strongly and take countermeasures against Nancy’s visit if the U.S. side pushes the trip.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news conference last month that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would have a serious impact on US-China relations. Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. military didn’t think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan as planned was a “good idea.” “The military now thinks that’s not a good idea,” said Biden, according to White House reporters. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane lands in Taiwan amid Chinese threat (watch video).

China has repeatedly opposed any form of official exchange between the United States and the Taiwan region. China’s state media warned against the US House Speaker’s visit to Taiwan, saying it was arguably a red line for Pelosi to never cross.

President Xi Jinping told Biden last week in a phone call with the presidents of the United States and China that China will defend its national sovereignty and that those who play with fire will perish with fire. Meanwhile, Biden told the Chinese president that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed, and that Washington opposes any unilateral change in the status quo.