In a way, Nancy Pelosi was actually quite brave to proceed with her Taiwan trip as China’s Red Army circled the island nation. On the other hand, she did immense damage to what was left of positive diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China.
However, if Pelosi really believes that China’s chief objection to her Taiwan trip was her gender, then she really is deranged.
The House Speaker departed Taiwan Wednesday night, but not before first holding a press conference with reporters.
The House speaker dismissed criticism of her visit to the island nation, which maintains it is self-governed despite China’s claims to it, and she suggested China’s retaliatory threats stemmed from the fact that she is a woman.
“They made a big fuss because I’m speaker, I guess. I don’t know if that was a reason or an excuse because they didn’t say anything when the men came,” Pelosi told reporters.
She was referencing a previous congressional envoy of bipartisan lawmakers that visited Taiwan in April.
Pelosi: “They didn’t say anything when the men came.” A reference to the fact that in April, US senators Lindsey Graham, Bob Menendez, Richard Burr, Ben Sasse, Rob Portman, and Ronny Jackson visited Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/TwW8t36Bxy
— Melissa Chan (@melissakchan) August 3, 2022
While some support Pelosi’s decision to visit the island nation, others criticized the move as a dangerous signal. Defense officials warned her not to go in the weeks leading up to the trip, with many privately conceding they were concerned about the timing.
Pelosi departed from Taiwan around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, marking the end of a contentious trip that defied threats from China as well as warnings from U.S. officials. The Chinese military began to mobilize after Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, landed on Tuesday, with China announcing plans to conduct military exercises around the island that prompted concerns among Taiwanese officials.
During her visit to Taiwan, Pelosi accepted an award from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on behalf of the United States, emphasizing a partnership with the island is “crucial” amid the “struggle between autocracy and democracy in the world.”
Her short stop in Taiwan was part of a larger Asia trip that included stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan.
It’s still unclear whether China will respond militarily following Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, but her publicity stunt certainly did immense damage nonetheless. For example, her presence in the island nation prompted China to seize business operations with top Taiwanese companies.
All in all, it’s apparent that Pelosi’s perfectly-timed Asia trip served as a perfect distraction from the heaping pile of crap she must deal with back home.
Author: Monica Hedren
