Pelosi should visit Taiwan despite Biden’s warning

WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats in Congress are rallying behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi by urging her to follow through on a potential visit to Taiwan even as President Joe Biden said the Pentagon believes such a trip is “not a good idea right now.”

China has gone much further, warning that it would respond with “forceful measures” if Pelosi steps foot on the democratic island Beijing considers a breakaway province.

Pelosi’s potential visit has created a rare and high-profile intraparty rift between the veteran legislator — a staunch defender of Taiwan and an outspoken critic of China’s human rights abuses — and Biden administration officials, who are wary about escalating tensions with the Asian superpower.

But it’s also created some bipartisan unity on Capitol Hill.

“If I were the speaker, I’d be going,” said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, who has served with Pelosi in Congress for more than two decades.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who previously served with Pelosi in the House, said, “If she wants to go, I certainly think she should go. And I think she should be more motivated to go now that she’s been discouraged, and colleagues should join her.”

“I think it’s important that we go over there and tell Taiwan that they are an important democratic ally,” said Sen. Rick Scott, chairman of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. “We ought to be clear there is no ambiguity that we will support them if they get invaded by communist China.”

Several Democrats offered similar encouragement for Pelosi.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., a member of the Intelligence Committee, said, “The Chinese are not going to restrict the speaker of the House’s travel.”

“Nobody should not go someplace because the Chinese government — which is guilty of genocide — is speaking in threatening terms,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., a member of Pelosi’s leadership team.

Newt Gingrich was the last House speaker to visit the democratic island, and that was in 1997. Pelosi visited Taiwan in 1999, but she did not hold a leadership post at the time.

Some Democrats, however, said the timing of a Taiwan trip carries both economic and geopolitical risks. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a phone call soon that will cover topics ranging from tensions over Taiwan and the war in Ukraine to managing competition between the U.S. and China, a White House spokesman said Tuesday.

“Many Republicans want to see her go as a show of strength, while many Democrats are concerned about the risks of unnecessary provocation — particularly in light of high inflation, an unstable oil marketplace and Russia’s war in Ukraine,” said one House Democrat, who requested anonymity to talk about the political dynamics.

One member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, expressed some reservations about Pelosi making the trip.

“I think we should be purposeful. If we’re going to change our Taiwan policy, let’s make it a collective decision to do so; let’s not do it by accident through a series of uncoordinated steps,” Murphy said.

“Obviously, the speaker of the House visiting Taiwan is a significant step that suggests recognition — formal diplomatic recognition is not part of our current policy.”

Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he also had concerns, but added that Pelosi now needs to make the trip so that the U.S. doesn’t appear weak in the face of China’s threats.

“Had I been consulted, I would have advised against the trip at this particular time. But since it’s now public, we must demonstrate that no country dictates where we travel and with whom we meet,” Phillips said. “The world is watching and it’s imperative the United States reassert its convictions and resolve.”

The 82-year-old speaker had hoped to lead an official congressional delegation to Taiwan in the spring but was sidelined by a Covid diagnosis at the last minute. In recent days, there were reports she would try again during the upcoming August recess, though a Pelosi spokesman said her office would not “confirm nor deny international travel in advance due to longstanding security protocols.”

Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., agreed with Phillips that it’s hard for Pelosi to “back out now.” But he added that she could “lower the volume” by taking a smaller group of lawmakers and fly on a private plane rather than a military or government plane.

“I think she has to go, but she can take steps to make it a fact-finding trip and not something that could be exploited by the other side,” Reed said. “That’s the danger: The Chinese could exploit the visit for their own needs.”

Attention around the potential trip comes as Congress is poised to pass major legislation aimed at boosting domestic computer chip production and competition with China. On Tuesday, the package known as “CHIPS-plus” cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate; it’s on track to pass both chambers by the end of the week.

At his weekly news conference Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., addressed what he called a “flap” over Pelosi’s travel plans.

“I think much more important than traveling to Taiwan is making sure we have worked with them to make sure their defenses are adequate to the threats that may come from mainland China,” said McConnell, whose wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was born in Taipei.

“I think we ought to refocus on what kind of military equipment they have — is that the right kind? And if not, working with them to make sure they’re actually have weapons that will deter the Chinese in case there is such an attack.”