Pelosi’s provocative visit to Taiwan makes US a lawbreaker and troublemaker, imperils global peace 

The provocative stunt of Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, plus the covert and overt support for “Taiwan independence” forces, can only expose the US’ double-handed political tricks in breaking international law and norms, but not stop the Chinese will for reunification of the island with the mainland. 

China’s reunification has never been a yes or no decision, but rather a choice of course and timing.

Though Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is not the first time a speaker of the US House of Representatives has visited the island, it is by far the severest breaking of US agreements to China. Hence, it justifies China’s strong responses with live military drills. 

When then speaker of the US House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, visited Taiwan more than 25 years ago, he went to Beijing first. And China tolerated Gingrich’s visit to Taiwan, and dismissed it as a one-off occurrence with little historical significance.

This time the US has taken on more than they can handle. China voiced its opposition from the very beginning. And China is right to regard Pelosi’s visit as “a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques”, and it also “seriously infringes China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, as explained by the Foreign Ministry. 

The US has no shortage of domestic challenges; so provocation of China is a deliberate attempt to add fuel to the fire and endangers global stability

Pelosi’s justifications for stepping foot on Taiwan are specious. She intends to demonstrate to US President Joe Biden that Congress can exert its own foreign policy authority without depending on the White House, while simultaneously avoiding an appearance of being pliable on China. 

Her claim of support to Taiwan as a regional ally goes against international norms. None of these factors are compelling enough to legitimize the increase in cross-Straits tensions. 

When the US Congress introduced the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, it reflected congressional opposition to then US president Jimmy Carter’s intention to establish relations with China and sever connections with authorities in the Taiwan region. 

But the US’ one-China policy was maintained for more than four decades, contributing to global stability, until Pelosi’s visit implicitly challenged it. A subdued form of brinksmanship was demonstrated by Biden’s mealy-mouthed response to Pelosi’s visit. 

For decades, the one-China principle has been a significant and respected national policy that is acknowledged globally. Nothing the US does will prevent China’s reunification. China has established its credibility and reputation for fulfilling its pledges, and it will do everything necessary to ensure that it is achieved. 

Pelosi’s visit has harmed the US-China relationship and jeopardizes additional dialogue between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is essential to maintaining the stability of the most significant bilateral relationship in the world. 

When a government official is willing to compromise the welfare of people in order to make provocative moves on the global geopolitical chessboard, such hubris is especially repulsive and despicable. 

The US has no shortage of domestic challenges; so provocation of China is a deliberate attempt to add fuel to the fire and endangers global stability. 

The one-China principle, which dates back to the Nixon administration’s diplomatic opening to late Chairman Mao Zedong in 1972, forbids the US from formally recognizing the Taiwan region and engaging in official exchanges. 

However, under-the-radar visits have increased since the time of the Donald Trump administration, when Alex Azar, the then US Secretary of Health and Human Services, became the first sitting cabinet-level official to visit the island. 

The entire world is aware which country is violating its own agreements, causing commotion, and acting unilaterally to imperil international peace. According to international law, China is fully entitled to utilize all means required to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Regardless of how many aircraft carrier strike squadrons the US deploys to the region, exhibiting its military power will only reinforce China’s determination to hasten reunification. 

Though it is improbable that China would engage in drastic military action, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has responded by issuing a stern warning. Pelosi cannot claim ignorance of such concerns as she was expressly briefed by military and intelligence officials, including General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prior to her visit. 

China’s objective of establishing national reunification between its Taiwan region and the Chinese mainland will not be thwarted under any circumstances. If provocative actions like Pelosi’s visit to the island to challenge China’s tolerance continue, Washington will soon realize how abysmally its attempts will backfire.

The author is the founder of Save HK and a member of the Central Committee of the New People’s Party of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.