Pelosi visit sets a possible flashpoint
Despite many saying it would be a bad idea, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went ahead and visited Taiwan anyway.
Pelosi said the visit was to honor “America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant democracy.”
Of course, China was none too pleased with that visit. Aside from seeing Taiwan as part of its territory, it also sees the visit as a “provocation.” Pelosi’s visit also comes at a bad time because of the ongoing China Communist Party Congress where Xi Jinping is making a bid for a “third term.”
Well, Pelosi can do whatever she wants on a personal capacity. She doesn’t have to answer to China for anything. Also, if she wanted to send a strong message that the US stands with Taiwan, there would be no better gesture.
But all that aside, the move was not advisable. Considering the timing with the Communist Party Congress and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, it just turned this part of the world into a possible flashpoint.
As we said earlier, the scenario with Russia invading Ukraine might happen here with China invading Taiwan. In fact, China is already taking notes of the world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion; it is likely already studying how to circumvent sanctions that may come its way should it take a similar action against another sovereign nation.
China is already “justifying” why it wants to take Taiwan back, flawed and wrong as that reasoning may be. Now it is looking for the right occasion. Those constant intrusions of Chinese military planes into Taiwan’s airspace? It is most likely that they want to goad the Taiwanese into shooting them down so they have an excuse to take further military action.
But since Taiwan hasn’t bitten the bait yet, China is constantly on the lookout for an event --just about any event-- to “trigger” that invasion, any excuse to say their hand was “forced” on the issue. Kind of like what Russia President Vladimir Putin is doing in presenting a justification --any justification including making up a story about neoNazis-to invade Ukraine.
China just might see this visit by Pelosi as such a triggering event.