US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is set to make a trip to Taiwan next month. However, recent comments by Biden have led to some doubts about whether it will actually happen or not.
Pelosi had originally planed a trip to Taiwan in April, however it was cancelled when the Speaker contracted COVID.
Zhao Lijian, CCP Foreign Ministry Spokes Person, of course, came out to say how the trip is a threat to China’s “territorial integrity,” and make vague threats. This of course is incredibly trite and historically inaccurate, but should be expected from the nation constantly threatening to invade Taiwan.
Unfortunately, this trip could also be canceled, not because of COVID (both the US and Taiwan have largely given up trying to contain the deadly virus), but instead because of recent comments made by US President Joseph Robinette Biden.
The AP quoted Biden as stating, “Well, I think that the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now.” Though he didn’t say outright that she should cancel the trip.
The exact reason why Biden said this is unclear, however his upcoming plans to talk with Chinese leader Xi Jinping could be part of it.
The two leaders are apparently planning a phone call by the end of the month. If it happens, it would be the first such call in 4 months.
The two leaders would likely discuss Taiwan in the call, as well as issues like the Biden Administration’s rumored plans to cut import taxes on Chinese goods to help deal with inflation.
They may also talk about the recent sailing of US naval ships through the Taiwan Strait, and constant incursions by PLA planes into Taiwan’s ADIZ (both of which, it should be remembered, are international spaces).
Whether either Pelosi’s trip or Biden’s call happen at all will be seen in the coming days. Both could potentially go through. If they do, it will be interesting to see what, if anything comes of them.