After a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan with a smile on her face that showed defiance and the resolve to continue to show the US as a model of Democracy and human rights.
She emphasized that the US will support Taiwan’s self-sovereignty.
“Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy,” she said in a short speech during her meeting with the Taiwan president.
“America’s determination to preserve democracy, here in Taiwan and around the world, remains ironclad.”
The visit heightened tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as their own territory, and has been threatening to retaliate. The Chinese government announced multiple military exercises surrounding Taiwan, including in Taiwanese waters, to begin on Thursday. They are the largest demonstrations of force directed at Taiwan since 1995, when China fired missiles to show its anger when former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui visited the US.
Taiwanese officials spoke out against China’s military actions. Captain Jian-chang Yu said at a briefing by the Taiwanese National Defense Ministry, “Such an act equals to sealing off Taiwan by air and sea, such an act covers our country’s territory and territorial waters, and severely violates our country’s territorial sovereignty.”
Taiwanese President Tsai’s response to the Chinese show of force was firm. During his meeting with Pelosi, he said, “Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will firmly uphold our nation’s sovereignty and continue to hold the line of defense for democracy.”
China’s announcement of military moves that involve live fire in Taiwan’s waters is a risky move and could be interpreted as an act of war.
President Tsai thanked Speaker Pelosi for her visit and support for Taiwan. He gifted her with a civilian honor, the Order of the Propitious Clouds, a medal awarded to civil servants for noteworthy performances and foreigners who give an outstanding contribution to the nation.
The Chinese air force meanwhile flew 21 war planes Tuesday toward the island of Taiwan, banned imports from Taiwan, voiced their anger in diplomatic discussions, and began the live-fire military exercises.