Opinion: House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is a salute to a thriving democracy, not a window of opportunity to destabilize the Indo-Pacific region

By Director General Louis M. Huang, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles

Following the recent visit to Taiwan by U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began an aggressive and hostile campaign of intimidation against Taiwan. The PRC has no legitimacy to use House Speaker Pelosi’s visit as a pretext to escalate any situation and to attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through its live-fire drills and economic coercion. There is simply no justification for the PRC’s aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan condemns recent threatening actions by the PRC, as the PRC’s escalatory response gravely affects international peace and security.

House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is not unprecedented and is in line with the long-standing practices derived from the U.S.’ unwavering commitment to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. Moreover, this significant visit not only represents the U.S.’ rock-solid support for Taiwan but also reaffirms and honors America’s support for Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. Taiwan has the right to cement relationships with other democratic countries. The PRC cannot dictate to a free and democratic country whom to associate with.

As the world denounces the PRC’s irrational behavior, Taiwan will work with like-minded countries to uphold the status quo and defend our commonly held values of democracy and respect for human rights. To prevent an unwanted cross-strait military conflict that would quickly tarnish the global economy, Taiwan will also continue to sustain strong deterrence and use self-restraint. 

These large-scale, live-fire military exercises and missile launches are an attempt to demoralize the 23 million peace-loving people of Taiwan and send a message to the international community to not interfere in the situation. We call on the international community to not despair and continue standing in solidarity with Taiwan to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. 

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