What is the U.S.-Taiwan relationship?

Despite Taiwan governing itself independently for decades, Beijing maintains that Taiwan is a breakaway province that will unify with China one day — even by force, if necessary. The United States initially recognized Taiwan’s government, founded by Chinese nationalists who fled China in 1949, as the government of China. But after Washington and Beijing formally established diplomatic relations in 1979, the U.S.-Taiwan relationship entered a decades-long period of diplomatic limbo. Washington and Taipei behave like allies — yet neither maintains an official embassy in the other’s capital. U.S. presidents have long avoided interacting with their Taiwanese counterparts, even over the phone, to avoid angering Beijing. The United States operates under the “one-China policy,” which acknowledges that there is only one China, without considering Taiwan a separate entity — along with the understanding that Taiwan’s future would not be decided by force.

Have U.S. lawmakers visited Taiwan in the past?

U.S. lawmakers have made periodic visits to Taiwan. However, there have been a number of high-profile visits in recent months, with Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill. ) among visitors. A small, bipartisan delegation of lawmakers, including U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), made an unannounced trip to Taipei in April. Such meetings usually spur outcry and condemnation from Chinese officials. Taiwanese leaders have visited the United States. Tsai visited in 2019 en route to the Caribbean with stopovers in New York and Denver, despite protests from Beijing. With Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan, she became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit in more than 25 years, after Gingrich visited in 1997. Pelosi’s status as a “No. 3 politician” in the United States has been emphasized in the Chinese state media. Pelosi’s long-running criticism of the Chinese government makes her visit especially noteworthy; she visited Tiananmen Square in 1991, two years after the Chinese government violently crushed major protests. She has been an outspoken voice on China’s human rights abuses.

Are Taiwan and the United States getting closer?

A number of key events suggest that they are, as U.S. relations with China fray. In 2016, President-elect Donald Trump spoke to Tsai over the phone — the first communications between U.S. and Taiwanese leaders since 1979. Trump would go on to sign the Taiwan Travel Act, which encouraged more official meetings between Taiwanese officials and U.S. counterparts, in 2018. Two years later, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited Taiwan in what was then the highest-level visit to the island by a U.S. official since 1979. And in the last days of the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted self-imposed U.S. government rules prohibiting interactions between U.S. diplomats and their Taiwanese counterparts. The moves came as the Trump administration sought to pressure Beijing in the midst of a trade war. The Biden administration has not reversed the measures, which have bipartisan support. Since taking office, President Biden has repeatedly suggested that the United States would come to Taiwan’s aid militarily if China attacks the island. The White House has publicly maintained that long-standing U.S. policy has remained the same.

How has Beijing reacted to reports of Pelosi’s trip?

Beijing, which opposes any official contact between Washington and Taipei, has been bellicose in its pushback. “If Pelosi insists on visiting Taiwan, China will take resolute and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday. “Those who play with fire will perish by it.” In a phone call with Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping also warned against meddling with the island, according to Chinese readouts of last week’s call. Popular sentiment has also been inflamed. Pelosi has been trending on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, where she is frequently called “the American Old Lady” and “the Old Witch.” But there are concerns that the reaction could go beyond words. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said the military “will take strong measures to thwart any external interference.” Beijing’s military carried out air training drills, which the Global Times noted came as the House speaker arrived in Singapore. The White House tried to calm nerves, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying last week that there is no reason for Beijing and Washington to “come to blows” should Pelosi decide to visit the island. He said there has been “no change” in U.S. policy in relation to China. John Hudson contributed to this report.

clockThis article was published more than 1 year ago

Here’s why top U.S. officials like Nancy Pelosi don’t usually go to Taiwan

By Adam Taylor

and

Sammy Westfall

Updated August 2, 2022 at 12:52 p.m. EDT|Published August 1, 2022 at 6:12 p.m. EDT

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening for the highest-level visit by a U.S. official to the self-governing island in decades.

Pelosi began her trip to Asia on Sunday without disclosing whether Taiwan was on the itinerary. But China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, reacted to the reports of a potential visit with fury, with state media warning that Beijing could respond with military force.