Kudos to Pelosi for Taiwan visit

As a conservative, there is not much for me to heap praise on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  Her willingness to follow through with the Taiwan visit in the face of saber rattling by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the opposition of President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was rather remarkable.  She literally defied Biden’s tendency to crumble in the face of mindless and meaningless threats from adversaries.

The Taiwan issue is complicated for several reasons.  Most Americans seem to believe that Taiwan is an independent democratic republic – a sovereign nation.  It is not.  Only two nations have diplomatic relations with Taiwan – 57 gave unofficial relationships and 106 nations, none at all..  Most nations recognize Taiwan as a province of Mainland China – more like a separation than a divorce. 

America has maintained a One China Policy regarding Taiwan since the 1960s – meaning that the Mainland and Taiwan are one nation.  A diplomatic fact that is recognized by virtually every nation on earth.  That is why Taiwan does not have a seat in the United Nations – and why they participate in the Olympics under the Chinese membership.

Regardless, the United States has a defense agreement with the government of Taiwan – and we supply military defense equipment.  While Taipei is an ally of the United States, it is also in a relationship with Beijing.  Taiwan has been the number one investor in Mainland commerce. In recent years, they have opened commercial air service.  Many islanders maintain business, personal, and family ties to the Mainland.  Voters in Taiwan have rejected candidates who favor independence.

Taiwan is an odd-ball situation, to say the least – unique in international affairs.  But until one understands the reality of the situation, it is impossible to understand the diplomatic machinations and threats from Beijing.

The situation is what it is, however.  It remains critical that the United States maintain the precarious balance with regard to Taiwan.  It is extremely important that the United States does NOT kowtow to verbal bullying by autocratic powers.  Even if the situation is nothing more than a tempest in a teapot, the United States must stand up for the interests of America, the free world, and democratic institutions everywhere.

In this case, Pelosi had to face down the bluster from Beijing AND the iconic weakness of the President and his administration.  Good for her!

So, there ‘tis.