World enews: Pelosi says in op-ed that Taipei visit is ‘unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan’

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei, Taiwan for a visit that’s been heavily criticized by the Chinese Communist Party, The Washington Post published an op-ed by Ms Pelosi in which she says that the “visit should be seen as an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner, as it defends itself and its freedom”.

Ms Pelosi begins the opinion piece by noting that the Taiwan Relations act was passed 43 years ago, calling it “one of the most important pillars of US foreign policy in the Asia Pacific”.

The speaker writes that the legislation “set out America’s commitment to a democratic Taiwan, providing the framework for an economic and diplomatic relationship that would quickly flourish into a key partnership”.

She adds that “it fostered a deep friendship rooted in shared interests and values: self-determination and self-government, democracy and freedom, human dignity and human rights”.

She also notes that the Act states that the US will “consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means … a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States”.

“Today, America must remember that vow. We must stand by Taiwan, which is an island of resilience”, the speaker writes.

She goes on to note that China has grown increasingly aggressive towards Taiwan over recent years.

China “has ramped up patrols of bombers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft near and even over Taiwan’s air defense zone”, she writes, adding that the Department of Defense has said that the Chinese army is “likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force”.

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