US Congress President Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan will have dire consequences

Nancy Pelosi

 News of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan has angered China, leaving the White House in a serious geopolitical dilemma. How big is this dilemma?

China has warned that there will be "serious consequences" if Speaker Nancy Pelosi goes ahead with her travel plans to Taiwan. In the US system of government, the vice president and then the speaker come second after the presidency. Nancy Pelosi will be the senior-most US politician to visit the island since 1997.

Any US intervention in Taiwan enrages China as China claims an independent Taiwan as a separate province. China has not ruled out the possibility of using force to achieve this.

Even the Biden administration has reportedly tried to block the California-elected Democratic Party leader from traveling to Taiwan.

Last week, President Joe Biden told reporters that 'the military doesn't think it's a good idea.' But his White House has called the Chinese statement against any such visit "clearly pointless and unnecessary".

The State Department says that Nancy Pelosi has not announced the visit and that there has been no change in the US attitude towards Taiwan.

Although the US maintains its Taiwanese policy of 'strong, informal ties' with Taiwan, it has formal diplomatic relations with China, but not with Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi's visit, if indeed it were to take place, comes ahead of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing and an expected phone call between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Why would Pelosi want to go to Taiwan?

There is a common bipartisan support for relations with Taiwan in the American public and in the US Congress, and during a congressional career spanning 35 years, Speaker Pelosi has been an outspoken critic of China.

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Speaker Pelosi has denounced China's human rights record and met with pro-democracy advocates in Taiwan. He also visited Beijing's Tiananmen Square in memory of the victims of the 1989 massacre.

Speaker Pelosi had originally planned to visit Taiwan in April, but it was postponed after testing positive for COVID-19.

He declined to discuss details of the trip, but said last week that "showing support for Taiwan was important for us."

Why does China oppose travel?

China considers Taiwan its territory and has repeatedly said that it will annex it by force if necessary.