House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Wednesday denied reports that the military discouraged her trip to Taiwan.
Before Pelosi’s visit to Asia, some apparent friction between Pelosi and the White House spilled into public view over the then-potential trip when President Joe Biden told reporters the military did not think it was a good idea for Pelosi to travel to Taiwan, in reference to security concerns presented by China. But Pelosi was undeterred, and the White House, as did a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers, ultimately backed the trip.
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“I don’t remember them ever telling us not to go,” Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol when asked about Biden’s remark.
China considers Taiwan its territory, a source of frequent friction between Beijing and Washington, given American support for the democratically controlled island. China tried to get Pelosi to cancel her visit, threatening vague “strong measures” in response if she went through with it.
Pelosi said the trip to Taiwan was intended to show the United States has a “strong relationship built on the status quo” of democracy on the island.
“Diplomacy, which is very much a soft power, is important, and to our security as well,” she said.
China halted some diplomatic talks with the United States in the wake of Pelosi’s trip and demonstrated other saber-rattling measures, including firing missiles over the island and conducting military exercises off its shoreline.
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China also levied sanctions against Pelosi and her family, which the speaker dismissed.
“Who cares?” she said in response to a question about the sanctions.
