New in PJ Media:
Will history record that World War III began because superannuated House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Absolut) insisted on visiting Taiwan after repeated warnings from the Communist Chinese that they would consider it an act of war if she did so? It could happen. Early Monday morning, Newsmax’s Alex Salvi reported that after some ambiguity about whether or not she was going, Pelosi is scheduled to arrive in Taipei Tuesday night. Salvi added: “China says its military will ‘not sit idly by’ if House Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan.” So will a global war begin because a member of America’s political elite wants a photo-op? It could happen.
Tensions have been high. On Friday, the Chinese Communist Party organ Global Times drew an explicit comparison between the standoff over Pelosi and earlier incidents in which China issued warnings and then went to war:
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you!”- a phrase that was used by the People’s Daily in 1962 before China was forced to fight the border war with India and ahead of the 1979 China-Vietnam War, was frequently mentioned during a forum held Friday by a high-level Chinese think tank, as analysts warned that open military options and comprehensive countermeasures ranging from the economy to diplomacy from China await if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gambles with a visit to the Taiwan island during her Asia tour.
There is no doubt that the warning has been repeated now, but how seriously Old Joe Biden and his henchmen take it is an open question.
Global Times also noted that “on Thursday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden, during which he once again warned the US about the seriousness and significance of the Taiwan question and said, ‘Public opinion cannot be defied. Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this.’”
This kind of talk has led some on the other side of America’s yawning political divide to urge Pelosi to pack up her vodka and head to Taipei rather than let the repressive Communist dictatorship in Beijing push us around. Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: “.@SpeakerPelosi. Nancy, I’ll go with you. I’m banned in China, but not freedom-loving Taiwan. See you there!” And as PJM’s Rick Moran noted, Trump’s defense secretary, Mike Esper, said flatly: “I think if the speaker wants to go, she should go.”
Should she really? This would be a fine time for cooler heads to prevail, if anyone out there has a cooler head at this point. The United States’ position on Taiwan and the People’s Republic is perfectly clear, regardless of whether or not Nancy Pelosi gets her photo-op.
There is more. Read the rest here.
Dan says
Truth be told, the demonrats are SO in bed with China, that this could all be just a scheme to make it look like they’re NOT in cahoots, and the democrats have the courage to stand up to China, to get voted back in.
James Hoagland says
Agree that “demonrats” are in bed with the PRC/CCP. This trip is just blowing smoke in peoples faces to cover over giving the CCP a pretense of self-defense. The only other creatures on this planet that can compete with the CCP for aggressiveness and arrogance are jihadists. But no doubt about the fact that the demonrats have been very pro-CCP for many moons now.
Walter Sieruk says
The President of Communist China really has nothing to complain or worry about in the matter of Nancy Pelosi visiting Taiwan.
The reason why this is so is because . Pelosi has proven to be nothing but a cause and disaster for America so there no logical reason to think Pelosi’s visit would nothing but a death kiss to the Island of Taiwan.
Walter Sieruk says
The Communist President Xi Jinping of Red China really has nothing to be angry or even upset about regarding Nancy Pelosi visiting Taiwan . This is because that corrupt mean old harpy has never done America any good , so there’s no reason that Pelosi will do any good Taiwan ,at all.
Infidel says
As Gordon Chang noted, if Pelosi does not go ahead w/ this visit, it will only strengthen the hawks within the CPC, who want to project force against the US. It would be a terrible move by us, regardless of what one thinks of Pelosi or her visit
The blame does go on Biden: he looks so weak that if the Chicoms were to shoot down Pelosi’s plane, it’s a good bet that the US won’t do a thing: not even a January 6th like move against Beijing. Which is the worst thing to have at the moment
gravenimage says
Spot on, Infidel.
Infidel says
What is the US position on Taiwan and the People’s Republic?
Keith O says
C’mon man, everyone is clear on that and clear that I am clear on what China tells me to think.
gravenimage says
Nixon threw Taiwan under the bus in the early 1970s when he recognized Communist China. But we have at least defended Taiwan’s right to exist. China wants to seize Taiwan–it has never accepted any Chinese living free from Communism. That Taiwan has thrived has been especially galling to them.
Westman says
Some possibilities:
The game of Chicken….the outcome where neither player yields is the worst possible one for both players. China yields.
Heroic Sacrifice – Pelosi’s plane goes down and becomes the rallying cry of Dems for the 2022 election.
China begins the military takeover of Taiwan.
Pelosi lands in Taiwan. Nothing happens – already happened.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-house-speaker-pelosi-arrives-in-taiwan-defying-beijing/ar-AA10e8nS?OCID=ansmsnnews11
gravenimage says
I don’t have to be a fan of Pelosi–I’m not–to think that China’s threat to shoot down her plane was outrageous.
Wellington says
Mixed feelings here. On the one hand, to Hell with what China demands—China means to replace America as the great power and this bodes ill for all of mankind. On the other hand, the Democrats (starting with Biden) project such weakness in foreign affairs this could be a stunt to show their tough just three months before the November elections.
Wellington says
“…they’re tough…” and not, mon Dieu, “…their tough….”
Hate when I screw up like this. It’s the perfectionist in me. Or is it the beer drinker in me? Close call.
somehistory says
the beer-dinking perfectionist.
john smith says
Wellington you are a perfectionist if you call that a screw up.
I come out with some real garbage when I’ve had a beer, believe you me I really know how to screw up.
gravenimage says
🙂
Westman says
China is promising a night fireworks show of their latest naval military hardware in mock excercises(that’ll show em’). Hope somebody records it so we can get a light show.
China sounds and acts like North Korean rage ranting tantrums, again! Poor fish.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Wellington.
somehistory says
I would find it difficult to care if she was shot out of the sky. what biden would do, I have no more clue than he has.
The nations are headed for Armageddon.
Aloha Akbar says
+1 there Somehistory
Just waiting for that Cry of Peace & Security
somehistory says
TY, AA. Yes, waiting
gravenimage says
Unfortunately, shooting down the Speaker of the House’s plane would much embolden our enemies. It wouldn’t matter who he or she was.
somehistory says
I still don’t have to care about her personally.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Somehistory.
Jon Sobieski says
Democrats are the Party of War. Anybody left in the world they haven’t pissed off? Taiwan belongs to China and China wants it back. Besides, why wouldn’t Taiwant want to be part of a winner (China) instead of a loser (the USA). Kinda like Crimea and Donbass, they want to be with the winner.
Infidel says
Actually no! Ever since the KMT lost the elections in China, the new ruling party – the DPP – won on the platform that they will simply be Republic of Taiwan, not Republic of China, and no longer have any claims on the mainland. That enraged Beijing, b’cos they believe that they own the whole world
I sometimes think WWII – emasculating Japan was a big mistake, b’cos what it did was unleash a worse country – China. Japan used to be a country that kept to itself until the US forced it to open up in the pre-WWI era, and then, when Japan’s hunger grew, FDR started to sanction it. But looking at history, when Japan was busy persecuting China, the people of Tibet, Mongolia and China’s other neighbors breathed a lot easier than they did after the war
I’d like to see a day come when that balance is restored in Japan’s favor. Not US, b’cos we can’t be everywhere all the time and do it
Westman says
Good observations, Infidel.
It seems every rising power continues to overreach until its hubris is scaled back to its limitations, usually by warfare, sometimes by economic depression. The Chinese government has no morals that are grounded in religion or the equal worth of all human life. I think they will push upon the world until the world inevitably pushes back.
gravenimage says
Infidel, I don’t think that Fascist Japan persecuting the Chinese was actually a good thing, nor do I believe that Japanese today have any interest in persecuting the Chinese, Koreans, and Filipinos.
And no–the US did *not* force Japan then to do this.
We should not be enabling Communist China now. It was Nixon who foolishly started this.
Infidel says
The US did force Japan in the 1850s – during President Millard Fillmore – to open up to trade – something that was unwarranted. Japan was doing fine left to itself: it didn’t have any outposts in Korea or China, and the sea kept it safe: attempts by Kublai Khan to invade Japan ended disastrously, since the Mongols had no naval expertize. Once Japan was opened up, their appetite increased, and in the post WWI era, they started invading Korea and Manchuria
When the Chinese were persecuted, be it by the Japanese or anyone else, Tibet and Mongolia were free. When they were sovereign, their neighbors suffered
It took 2 nukes to end Fascist Japan. I fear it will take a lot more than that to end Communist China
gravenimage says
Infidel, I absolutely agree that no one has the right to forcibly “open” up trade with any nation. This is wrong. But this does *not* justify their brutally victimizing their neighbors eighty years later, nor does one inevitably lead to the other.
And I completely agree that we should not be enabling Communist China. I have found this alarming for decades.
gravenimage says
Jon, your idea that Taiwan wants to be oppressed by Communist China is mistaken. They have in fact rejected this for 70 years now.
Taiwan’s per capita GDP is over three times that of China. Then there’s that whole freedom thing, too–although it seems this is not high on your list of values. The Taiwanese may disagree, though.
As for Donbas, over 80% there voted to remain with Ukraine. That number might be higher now, after the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the near razing of cities there, including Mariupol.
Then, the claim that Russia is “the winner” because they are savage enough to invade their neighbors is *very* strange.
And even if you go just by brute strength, the fact that Russia–once thought to have the world’s second most powerful army–having to cede most of the land they tried to seize in Ukraine is actually not all that impressive. Instead of being able to assassinate Ukraine’s president and seize the whole country, after five months they occupy just 7% of the country.
The economy in Russia is starting to crater, as well. And they are now reduced to going to Iran for weapons.
It appears you have mistaken “winners” with bloody barbarians.
Wellington says
Well stated, gravenimage.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Wellington.
gravenimage says
World War III? Pelosi Going to Taiwan After All; China Says Its Military Won’t ‘Sit Idly By’
………………………….
I am *no* fan of Nancy Pelosi, but she has every right to visit Taiwan. In fact, China threatening to shoot down her plane if she did so is the act of war.
China is apparently emboldened by Russia having invaded Ukraine–although it doesn’t seem to have worked out so well for them. I don’t think that we should be appeasing China’s aggression towards Taiwan.
somehistory says
I haven’t seen that she has voiced a *reason* for going. Perhaps I just missed it, but she doesn’t work for the State Dept. and she is supposed to be making laws in the House. for the U.S. so, what is her business, her reason for doing this? Is she on the foreign policy committee so that she has to personally go over and find out what policy would suit?
Infidel says
Like others here, I’m no fan of hers, but as Gordon Chang noted, the visit itself is significant in signaling Beijing that we stand w/ Taiwan, even if all she discussed w/ President Tsai was LGBTQIA grooming or buying TSMC stock w/ the money Paul got from prematurely selling NVIDIA. Like the killing of Zawahiri, Pelosi’s visit is one of the few good things the Dems have done this term
gravenimage says
Somehistory, I am not a particular fan of American politicians like Congresspeople and Governors making international trips. That being said, I don’t think that Pelosi or anyone else is duty bound to give a reason to China before travelling.
somehistory says
Not a *reason* to china….a *reason* to us. She’s not paying her own way, and if she gets shot out of the sky, and there is war, her hubby won’t be cannon fodder as will other people’s family members
gravenimage says
Somehistory, I don’t think that China has a right to shoot down Pelosi’s plan whether she’s got what I or any other American considers a good reason for visiting Taiwan.
She has now left Taiwan, though, and the Communist Chinese did not shoot down her plane. They are now threatening Taiwan with nearby war games, though–typical thug behavior.
somehistory says
When and where did I write that china had a ‘right to shoot down her plane’ or to shoot anything, at any time?
g, you seem to be confused about what I wrote; I do not recall saying china had any rights whatsoever.
gravenimage says
OK, Somehistory. I do agree that Pelosi should tell the American people what her reasons for her trip were–this should be true of American politicians in general.
Infidel says
I do agree w/ Claudia Tenney today that she should have included some Republican members of the foreign relations and intel committees in her delegation, since it was important to send Beijing a signal that this support to Taiwan is bipartisan. But being the autocrat that she is, she refused
gravenimage says
Agreed, Infidel.