House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) blasted criticism of her trip before she left Taiwan late Wednesday, leaving uncertainty as to whether China’s military will retaliate in response to her visit.
The House speaker dismissed criticism of her visit to the island nation, which maintains it is self-governed despite China’s claims to it, and she suggested China’s retaliatory threats stemmed from the fact that she is a woman.
NANCY PELOSI LANDS IN TAIWAN FOR HISTORIC VISIT, PLEDGING ‘UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY’
Pelosi: “They didn’t say anything when the men came.” A reference to the fact that in April, US senators Lindsey Graham, Bob Menendez, Richard Burr, Ben Sasse, Rob Portman, and Ronny Jackson visited Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/TwW8t36Bxy
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“They made a big fuss because I’m speaker, I guess. I don’t know if that was a reason or an excuse because they didn’t say anything when the men came,” Pelosi told reporters, referencing when Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Burr (R-NC), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Ronny Jackson (R-TX) visited Taiwan in April.
While some support Pelosi’s decision to visit the island nation, others criticized the move as a dangerous signal. Defense officials warned her not to go in the weeks leading up to the trip, with many privately conceding they were concerned about the timing, according to the Washington Post.
Pelosi departed from Taiwan around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, marking the end of a contentious trip that defied threats from China as well as warnings from U.S. officials. The Chinese military began to mobilize after Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, landed on Tuesday, with China announcing plans to conduct military exercises around the island that prompted concerns among Taiwanese officials.
During her visit to Taiwan, Pelosi accepted an award from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on behalf of the United States, emphasizing a partnership with the island is “crucial” amid the “struggle between autocracy and democracy in the world.”
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Her short stop in Taiwan was part of a larger Asia trip that included stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. During the tour, Pelosi and a group of lawmakers will focus on strengthening economic and security partnerships overseas and the “democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to Pelosi’s press release.
The congressional delegation accompanying Pelosi on her trip includes Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA); Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL); and Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ).
