US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended her visit to Taiwan despite tensions with China. “Yes, it was worth it,” the 82-year-old, who traveled to Asia last week, said in an interview with US broadcaster NBC today. “What the Chinese are doing now is what they always do,” she said, referring to the new military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait. The Democrat said she received “overwhelming bipartisan support” for her visit.
According to Pelosi, China’s head of state and government, Xi Jinping, is in a “difficult situation”. He has problems with his economy and also wants to be re-elected. “He acts like a fearful bully.”
The Chinese leadership rejects official contacts from other countries with Taiwan and sees visits like Pelosi’s as provocative because it sees the island as part of the People’s Republic. On the other hand, Taiwan has long considered itself independent. With its maneuvers underway since last week, the People’s Liberation Army is not only carrying out a sea and air blockade, but also a possible conquest of the island.