Political Theater in the Pacific

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just concluded her highly publicized East Asia trip, traveling to Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. However, Pelosi’s trip has gained international interest and news with how much it affects the diplomatic stability of the East.

On Tuesday, August 2, Nancy Pelosi addressed the Taiwan Parliament and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Pelosi, along with her other delegation members, made it clear in extensive press conferences that the “‘visit to Taiwan honors America’s wavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,’” according to a recent Reuters article. 

Pelosi, in an effort to prove herself a long-time China critic supposedly fighting against autocracy and defending democracy, when compared to some of her actions in Congress, contradicts herself. 

The Speaker of the House’s journey to the Pacific served a double purpose of boosting her own image and lauding over her supposed never-ending career fighting for human rights. The former is ethical for Pelosi to say, until you look at the facts. 

If Pelosi were such a warrior against Communist China, why then, as John David Daniel argues in a piece from The Federalist, did Pelosi and House Democrats refuse to participate in forming a bipartisan task force focused on creating legislative strategy for China? It leads many to wonder the motives behind bailing on a congressional opportunity to monitor and compete with the United States’ No. 1 adversary.

In addition, Pelosi further contradicts herself with the recently passed $280 billion CHIPS Act, ironically dubbed by many in the media as the “China competition bill.” The bill is supposed to boost U.S. manufacturing of semiconductors by aiding manufacturers with benefits and allowing the National Science Foundation to hand out grants to U.S. institutions of higher education.

Unfortunately, Pelosi, back in 2020, obstructed a bipartisan bill in the House restricting Confucius Institutes in U.S. higher education institutes. Those same Confucius Institutes are funded by the Chinese Communist Party, right in the middle of institutes where young American adult minds are easily accessed and molded. Additionally, the CHIPS Act allows the National Science Foundation to award grants and funds to those same places of higher education which have relations with the Chinese government. 

Whether they were mistakes or simply overlooked, these few actions in Congress by Pelosi and other top Democrats grossly show Pelosi’s hypocrisy when lined up with her statements in Taiwan. 

Objecting against Pelosi’s statements, the U.S. cannot defend Taiwan if it is indirectly strengthening China through holes in legislation. Pelosi and other long-time congressional democrats have, in some ways, led to the very thing she claims to be fighting against: China’s oppressiveness and growth, militarily and economically. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, other members of Congress, the President and the citizens of the United States need to realize China’s imminent threat to the U.S. and her allies and take the proper steps in order to compete, not give hypocritical speeches with the purpose of boosting one’s image.