Pelosi Says Chinese Military Might Shoot Down Her Plane Over Taiwan

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that: should the U.S. side insist on making the visit, China will act strongly to resolutely respond to it and take countermeasures. We mean what we say,

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
July 22, 2022 09:30 pm UTC
Modified: July 22, 2022 09:30 pm

U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi would not confirm whether or not she will be following through with her plans to travel to the island of Taiwan in August, but did say that she believes that the military may be afraid her plane would be shot down by Chinese forces as they neared Taiwanese airspace.

U.S. President Joe Biden had said that he believes the military does not think it's a good idea to visit Taiwan right now, amidst threats of action by China if the United States follows through with plans to bring a delegation to the island.

When asked about Biden's comment about it not being a good idea to visit right now, and whether that would cause her not to visit the island, she said that she doesn't discuss travel plans in advance due to it being a "security issue", and added, "You never even hear me say if I'm going to London."

She was then asked what the United States can do to prevent China from attacking the island of Taiwan, at which point she laughed and said that this is a "very major issue" and said that it is important to show support for Taiwan.

"None of us have ever said that we are for independence when it comes to Taiwan. That's up to Taiwan to decide," Pelosi responded.

Regarding Biden's comments about the military being concerned about her trip to Taiwan in August, she said, "I think what the president was saying is maybe the military was afraid our plane would get shot down, or something like that, by the Chinese. I don't know exactly. I didn't see it. I didn't hear it."

Further commenting on what the President had said, she stated "You're telling me, and I've heard it anecdotally, but I haven't heard it from the president."

Meanwhile, Politico has reported that the Biden administration is in a dispute with Pelosi, which has "spilled into public view" and that at the Pentagon, officials "believe the trip could increase tensions in the region" as Pelosi plans on visiting the island with military aircraft, which is standard procedure for congressional delegations, but to the Chinese would look like a "military operation", according to one U.S. official quoted by Politico.

The Republicans on the other hand are backing Pelosi up, according to Politico, saying that Pelosi has a strong track record of "pushing back against China".

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, who is a Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said, "I don’t always agree with her, but on this one I applaud it. It’s important that we show up in Taiwan and demonstrate to China that we are supportive. That’s a very strong statement for a speaker to go to Taiwan.”

This, after reports by Chinese state media that China may Declare A No Fly Zone over the country of Taiwan if Pelosi does decide to go ahead with her visit to the island.