Taiwan’s President Meets with Pelosi, Sparks Fury in Beijing
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te engaged in a “warm and amicable” conversation with former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday, his spokeswoman confirmed, further inflaming tensions between Taiwan and China.
The call, lasting 20 minutes, focused in part on “China’s military threats toward Taiwan,” according to Karen Kuo, President Lai’s spokeswoman. The conversation occurred during Lai’s first pitstop in Hawaii, the beginning of a weeklong Pacific tour that has already drawn Beijing’s ire.
A History of Friction
Pelosi, a long-standing supporter of Taiwan, has been a persistent irritant to Beijing. In 2022, her visit to Taipei triggered massive Chinese military drills around the island, underscoring the fragility of cross-strait relations.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and strongly opposes its international recognition as a sovereign state. Beijing is particularly sensitive to any official contact between Taiwan and the United States, which is Taiwan’s most important partner and main arms supplier.
Rising Tensions
The meeting between Lai and Pelosi comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions. Right before the Taiwanese president’s trip, the United States approved a proposed arms sale to Taiwan worth a total of US$385 million. This package includes spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and radar systems, as well as communications equipment.
Beijing reacted furiously to both the arms sale and Lai’s visit to Hawaii, where he was greeted with red carpets, garlands of flowers and hearty “alohas.” “China will take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated.
They further condemned the United States, issuing a second statement that declared, “China strongly condemns the United States for Lai’s stopover and has lodged serious protests with the US.”
As President Lai’s Pacific tour continues, it remains to be seen how Beijing will respond. He has already met with Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green, members of the US Congress, officials from the de facto US embassy in Taipei, and other key figures. In his first public address of the trip, Lai delivered a clear message: “We have to fight together to prevent war,” he declared. “There are no winners from conflict.”
What is the current status of relations between China and Taiwan?
## Interview with Dr. Emily Chen on Taiwan-China Relations
**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Joining us today is Dr. Emily Chen, an expert in East Asian politics and international relations. Dr. Chen, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te recently spoke with former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sparking renewed tensions with Beijing. Can you shed some light on this situation?
**Dr. Chen:** Certainly. This phone call, while brief, carries significant weight in the context of strained Taiwan-China relations. President Lai’s meeting with Pelosi shortly after arriving in Hawaii for a Pacific tour further demonstrates the growing unease Beijing feels towards increasing US support for Taiwan.
**Host:** You mentioned tensions. What specifically are China’s concerns?
**Dr. Chen:** Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province and strongly opposes any actions perceived as legitimizing Taiwan’s independence. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/nancy-pelosi-taiwan-parliament-visit/index.html)]triggered strong reactions from China, including economic sanctions and military exercises. This latest phone call, especially focusing on “China’s military threats toward Taiwan,” is likely seen as another provocation by Beijing.
**Host:** What are the potential ramifications of this phone call?
**Dr. Chen:** It’s difficult to predict with certainty, but this development likely escalates the existing tensions. Beijing may respond with further economic or military measures to signal its displeasure. This situation underscores the delicate geopolitical balance in the region and the ongoing risk of miscalculations.
**Host:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Chen. This is certainly a developing story we will continue to follow closely.
