At about 22:50 on August 3, 2022, in spite of the attention of hundreds of millions of people, Nancy Pelosi and her congressional delegation defied strong oppositions and solemn representations from China by arriving at Taipei Songshan Airport, marking the first visit to Taiwan by a U.S. House speaker in 25 years.
Almost at the same time when Pelosi arrived, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued a statement on its official website which indicates that China firmly opposes and sternly condemns this, and has made serious démarche and strong protest to the United States. The statement said, China will definitely take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the U.S. Speaker’s visit. All the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the U.S. side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
On August 3, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Cambodia that Pelosi’s visit was a complete “farce”. Wang Yi stressed that the U.S. is playing the dirty tricks to encroach upon China’s sovereignty under the guise of “democracy”, and separatist forces for “Taiwan independence” like Tsai Ing-wen are hanging on to the U.S. coattails, turning their back on the just cause of the Chinese nation. However, these perverse actions cannot in any way change the prevailing international consensus on the one-China principle, nor can they change the irreversible historical trend of Taiwan’s return to the motherland.

Challenge China’s bottom line
Li Fei, distinguished professor of Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, told that American officials’ previous visits to Taiwan derive from the same purposes, and the United States is testing the bottom line of China by playing the edge ball again and again. The U.S. trigger tension in cross-straits relations serves its interests.
Pelosi’s Asian trip has widely reported and speculated in April, but she postponed the trip after she tested positive for Covid-19.
An article in Taiwan’s China Times cited an insider saying the White House and the American military have discouraged Pelosi from visiting Taiwan, as well as Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party once withdrew their invitation to Pelosi. Taiwan continued to arrange receptions for Pelosi because of her censure.

Wrestle, Blockade and Countermeasures
Before Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, China’s related departments, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, have successively couched in harsh terms, demanding that the United States stop indulging and supporting pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
“If the US side insists on making the visit, the Chinese side will take firm and strong measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US must assume full responsibility for any serious consequence arising thereof”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian replied to the reporter on July 25, 2022, “we are fully prepared for any eventuality.”
China’s Defense spokesperson Tan Kefei also made the remarks at a press conference, the Chinese side urges the U.S. side to take practical actions to fulfill its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence”, and must not arrange for Pelosi to visit the Taiwan region.?
Fang Ping, the military expert, told that since the establishment of Sino-American diplomatic relations, the U.S. side has been very clear that the Taiwan question is one of China’s core interests. However, under the “pioneering example” of the United States, officials from other countries have also visited Taiwan in recent years, constantly challenging China’s bottom line. As the U.S. House speaker, Pelosi’s visit pushed the matter to the cusp of public opinion. Therefore, China must take a hard attitude to make known its position.
Up to now, China’s related departments have announced countermeasures.
On the military side, the Eastern Theatre Command has organized troops of multiple services and arms to conduct targeted training exercises of joint blockade, strikes on land and maritime targets, airspace control operations as well as the live firing of precision-guided munitions.?Meanwhile, PLA conducted drills around island of Taiwan including conventional missile test launches. In addition, the Chinese PLA conducted important military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills surrounding Taiwan island from 12 pm, Aug 4 to 12 pm, Aug 7.
On the day of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, there was also a silent tussle over the Taiwan Straits. China’s Su-35 fighter jets were crossing the Taiwan Strait, CCTV news reported on the evening of August 2.
On the economic front, China has halted the import of Taiwan’s citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail, and frozen horse mackerel, effective on August 3. China’s ban on natural sand exports to Taiwan had also been issued on the same day.
In addition, the authorities will take punitive measures against the “Taiwan Foundation for Democracy” (TFD) and the “International Cooperation and Development Fund” (ICDF), two organizations that have close ties with diehard secessionists, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, on August 3. They will be prohibited from cooperating with mainland organizations, enterprises and individuals. Organizations, enterprises and individuals providing financial support or services for them will also be punished.
A variety of countermeasures have aroused the concern of public opinion on the island. “How can Taiwanese accept that Pelosi has pushed Taiwan into a dangerous situation of war?” said Wu Chengdian, chairman of Taiwan’s new party. The Taiwan Strait is filled with gas at the moment and Pelosi came to set the gas on fire.

Anti-China—Pelosi’s political foundation
Some American political analysts pointed out that Pelosi was essentially a “fundamentalist of 20th century Democrat”. She supports the majority of the Democratic Party’s “classic” propositions, such as high welfare, high taxes, environmentalism, gun control, restrictions on free trade, and the promotion of “human rights diplomacy” on the international stage.
According to Diao Daming, researcher of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, “anti-China” and “double standard” are the foundation of Pelosi’s political fortune. As an extreme anti-China politician, Pelosi called for the U.S. and other countries to impose diplomatic boycotts of the summer and winter Olympics hosted by China in Beijing in 2008 and 2022, respectively. Besides, she vigorously promoted the passage of a bill related to Xinjiang in 2019. When “Hong Kong independence” activists tried to disturb social order in 2019, Ms. Pelosi referred to the Hong Kong protests as “a beautiful sight to behold”.

Pelosi’s smug calculations
“Pelosi is so self-absorbed.” U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Green posted five tweets on the social media platform on July 30, criticizing Pelosi for taking risks to visit Taiwan for her own personal interests and ignoring domestic problems. According to the “CHIPS-plus” bill recently advanced by the American Senate, the United States will invest $52 billion in stateside semiconductor manufacturing and research. However, when the United States Congress was set to pass the bill, Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, bought 20000 shares of NVIDIA in advance. American public opinion believes that Paul Pelosi is suspected of insider trading.
On the other hand, the attitude toward China has long been bargaining counters in political deals in the U.S. “In recent years, a deformed political atmosphere has formed in the United States – whoever is tough on China can get votes”, Fang Ping told , “Pelosi insists on visiting Taiwan will help the Democratic Party win the upcoming mid-term elections. Even if she could not stand out in the election, she also accumulated a political legacy for her retirement.”
“Taiwan is not a playground for U.S. politicians,” said Lyle Goldstein on August 2, director of Defense Priorities of Asia Engagement. The Taiwan Straits situation is delicate and its security largely depends on the maintenance of the one-China policy that has kept the peace for decades.
“It is no exaggeration to say the future of humanity may depend on a pragmatic US-China relationship — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan needlessly jeopardizes regional stability”, said Lyle Goldstein.

Translator：Yannis Lee