Pelosi Says U.S. Is Determined To ‘Preserve Democracy’ As She Meets Taiwanese President

Topline

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and several representatives from the country’s parliament, as part of a high-profile visit that has angered China which has retaliated by carrying out large scale military drills around the island.

Key Facts

Pelosi and the congressional delegation accompanying her met with Taiwanese legislators first on Wednesday morning and then paid a visit to Tsai’s presidential office.

Pelosi’s meeting with Tsai was broadcast live where the House Speaker was presented with the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon—one of Taiwan’s highest civilian honors.

Following her meeting, Pelosi delivered a speech where she painted her visit as a choice between “democracy and autocracy” and said the U.S. was determined to “preserve democracy” in Taiwan and the rest of the world.

Pelosi is expected to visit a human rights museum in Taipei later on Wednesday before departing for the South Korean-leg of her Asia trip, followed by a visit to Japan.

Angered by Pelosi’s visit, China has initiated multiple live-fire military drills encircling the island which Taiwanese officials have equated with a naval and aerial blockade.

Crucial Quote

In response to threats made by China, Pelosi said: “While China has stood in the way of Taiwan going to certain meetings, they understand they will not stand in the way of people coming to Taiwan as a show of friendship and of support.”

Key Background

Although a Taiwan visit was not officially a part of the itinerary for Pelosi’s Asia tour, her arrival in the country was widely expected. After the U.S. Air Force plane carrying Pelosi and the congressional delegation left the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the flight’s path was followed by more than 700,000 people at one point on the tracking website FlightRadar24. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is the most high-profile visit to the island by a U.S. official since a 1997 tour by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Officials in Beijing have been angered by the visit and view it as meddling in China’s internal affairs and a support for Taiwanese independence.

Further Reading

Pelosi’s Flight Lands In Taiwan—As 700,000 Follow Along Online (Forbes)

Washington Urges Calm Over Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit But Tensions Cause Asian Markets To Slide (Forbes)