"Nancy Pelosi, Let's Meet in Taiwan" Pompeo Criticizes Biden's Policy

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State under the Donald Trump administration, openly criticized the Joe Biden administration for not supporting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

In an interview on WABC77 radio on the 31st of last month (local time), Pompeo, referring to Pelosi's Indo-Pacific tour, said he was unsure if she would actually visit Taiwan, adding, "If that plan changes, it would be a truly dangerous situation." He pointed out that it could appear as if the U.S. had yielded to China's military demonstrations.

Pompeo mentioned that the Biden administration had expressed a negative nuance by saying it was "not a good idea at this time" for Pelosi to visit Taiwan, stating, "Allowing the U.S. to be bullied by Chinese propaganda, especially right after a long call between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, would send a very bad message to regional allies such as Australia, South Korea, and Japan."

He also criticized that during the Trump administration, there was absolutely no threat of U.S. planes being shot down, saying, "I don't believe China holds the same respect for the U.S. and its president as it did 18 to 19 months ago before President Biden took office." Earlier, upon news of Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan, he tweeted, "Nancy, I will go with you," adding, "I am banned from entering China, but not freedom-loving Taiwan. See you there."

As the third highest-ranking official in U.S. power, Pelosi has not yet confirmed whether she will visit Taiwan, which has become a hot issue in U.S.-China relations. If Pelosi visits Taiwan, she will be the highest-ranking official to do so since 1997.

China has strongly opposed the news of Pelosi's planned visit from the outset and has intensified military demonstrations such as live-fire exercises near Taiwan. However, voices supporting Pelosi's trip to Taiwan are growing within the U.S. Republican Senator Ben Sasse argued, "Speaker Pelosi must go to Taiwan, and President Biden must make it clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Communist Party cannot do whatever it wants." Analysts also suggest that if Pelosi does not visit Taiwan, it could signal a decline in U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Pelosi's delegation's private plane reportedly arrived at Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base at around 5:20 a.m. Korean time on the 1st. Taiwan's United Daily News, citing Radio France Internationale (RFI), reported on the 1st that Pelosi is expected to depart from the Clark U.S. Air Base in the Philippines on the 4th and arrive in Taiwan. RFI, citing sources, said Pelosi would meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and then head to Yokota Air Base in Japan the following afternoon.