Pelosi's trip: US and Chinese forces deploy near Taiwan

During a proposed visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House Speaker, Chinese leaders threatened a military attack on Taiwan. The United States has also sent military forces to the region around Taiwan.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

China forces will conduct live-fire exercises between mainland China and South Korea in waters north of Taiwan, the party announced through state-owned media. Several Chinese drills have been conducted in the region in the last few weeks. China's D-17 hypersonic missile was displayed with the announcement, however.

A US carrier strike group and air support will be moved closer to Taiwan. A five-day port visit in Singapore last week prompted the USS Ronald Reagan to move back into the South China Sea.

At the moment, Pelosi is traveling to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea as part of her Indo-Pacific tour. A remarkable aspect of the trip, however, is her alleged intention to visit Taiwan, which has long been harassed and intimidated by the China.

Chinese officials warned Pelosi in an Aug. 1 statement that they would not stand by idly if she visited the island. As part of its threat to the US and Taiwan, the China warned against "forceful measures" if Pelosi visit. Following the threat, President Joe Biden said the trip wasn't a good idea.

President Biden may have meant that the military feared China would shoot down her plane, Pelosi explained subsequently.

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the state-owned Global Times, wrote on Twitter: “If U.S. fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion,”

"Chinese Military has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down.”

A tweet that promoted violence was later removed by Twitter.

Even as China continues to saber rattling, American leaders and public figures have expressed their support for Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. A Pentagon official clarifies that Beijing's intimidation will not affect the free movement of elected officials.

Ing-Wen, Taiwan's president, has pledged to protect Taiwan's democratic way of life as well as its thriving market economy from Chinese communist aggression.

“We shouldn’t be intimidated by that rhetoric or those potential actions,” said Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby during an interview with CNN.

“This is an important trip for the Speaker to be on and we’re going to do whatever we can to support her.”

1st August 2022