POLL: Should Pelosi visit Taiwan? Yes or No?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly departing the United States on Friday, along with a group of fellow lawmakers, for a trip to Asia, and speculation is swirling over whether she will make a stop in Taiwan. The possibility has brought vicious threats from Communist China.

An op-ed written by National Security writer Tom Rogan and published in the Washington Examiner explains:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is flying to Asia. The second-most powerful politician in the United States will visit Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan. She is also likely to visit Taiwan between the Indonesia and Japan legs of the trip.

Communist China is enraged over this. On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping used a video call with President Joe Biden to warn that “those who play with fire get burnt.”

Xi and Chinese Communist Party orthodoxy hold that Taiwan is not only a breakaway province, but also a betrayal of the greater Chinese Communist destiny. Xi sees himself as the helmsman leading the ship of destiny to a future of unparalleled global hegemony. A democratic, sovereign Taiwan is a very physical obstacle to that destination. To Beijing, a democratic Taiwan is a cancer that, one way or another, must be eradicated. Put simply, it cannot coexist with Communist China.

Rogan adds, “The images of Pelosi landing on Taiwan, especially via a U.S. military aircraft, would undercut Xi’s desired leadership narrative. Xi would view Pelosi’s presence as a highly personal insult. It is this personal year of consequence for Xi that underlines why I believe Pelosi is making a mistake going to Taiwan now.”

Joe Biden had a two-hour long telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, in which Xi warned Biden about Pelosi’s trip, “Public opinion shall not be violated, and if you play with fire you get burned. I hope the US side can see this clearly.”

China’s threats are getting vicious. On Friday, a Chinese media official declared that Pelosi’s plane could be shot down if she dares to go to Taiwan.

If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion. The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down. https://t.co/V7LhrXgXoM

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) July 29, 2022

Asked about her trip to Asia and whether she would stop in Taiwan, Pelosi avoided the question, saying, “Well, I don’t ever talk about my travel, because as some of you know, it’s a security issue. It’s a security issue for every member of Congress traveling — especially abroad. But for the speaker, it is an additional security issue, and for those traveling with me, not just members, but staff, et cetera.”

The Associated Press noted that Pelosi had originally planned to visit Taiwan in April, but delayed her trip after testing positive for Covid-19.

However, now that news of her trip has been reported, many are saying Pelosi SHOULD stop in Taiwan, despite the threats from China, to avoid the United States appearing weak.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted on Wednesday, “Now that it has become public, Speaker Nancy Pelosi must go to Taiwan in August. Further, she should take a bipartisan congressional delegation with her.”

Now that it has become public, Speaker Nancy Pelosi must go to Taiwan in August. Further, she should take a bipartisan congressional delegation with her.https://t.co/uZBXRQGkAp

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) July 27, 2022

On the other hand, former President Donald Trump criticized Pelosi in a statement on his Truth Social account on Friday. He wrote:

Why is Nancy Pelosi getting involved with China and Taiwan other than to make trouble and more money, possibly involving insider trading and information, for her cheatin’ husband? Everything she touches turns to Chaos, Disruption, and “Crap” (her second big Congress “flop” happening now!), and the China mess is the last thing she should be involved in – She will only make it worse. Crazy Nancy just inserts herself and causes great friction and hatred. She is such a mess!!!

But Trump’s former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, disagrees. Pompeo just tweeted on Friday afternoon:

CCP-mouthpiece The Global Times threatens Pelosi‘s plane will be shot down if she visits Taiwan. President Biden must give full support to this visit. Don’t be weak and cave to the demands of petty warmongers and dictators in Beijing. Support the freedom-loving people of Taiwan.

CCP-mouthpiece The Global Times threatens Pelosi’s plane will be shot down if she visits Taiwan.

President Biden must give full support to this visit. Don’t be weak and cave to the demands of petty warmongers and dictators in Beijing. Support the freedom-loving people of Taiwan.

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) July 29, 2022

PLEASE TAKE OUR POLL BELOW – WE WANT YOUR OPINION. Should Pelosi and her delegation make a stop in Taiwan, or should they avoid it due to China’s threats?

Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin tweeted earlier on Friday, “Diplomatic sources tell me Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan next week is expected to happen, in the early part of her Asia tour. Pelosi’s office says trip possible, but not confirmed.”

Diplomatic sources tell me Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan next week is expected to happen, in the early part of her Asia tour. Pelosi’s office says trip possible, but not confirmed.

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 29, 2022

🇺🇸🇨🇳 The phone call lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes and, according to the Chinese government ‘readout’ of how it went, it sounds like it was pretty blunt.

Xi warned Biden about ‘playing with fire’ over the Taiwan issue. We await the White House assessment of how it went pic.twitter.com/lvOopZtQce

— Mark Stone (@Stone_SkyNews) July 28, 2022

EYES ON ASIA: Pelosi departs on trip as world watches for possible Taiwan stop https://t.co/esjkogPVgN

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 29, 2022

The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.