Following Pelosi's Visit, China Alters the Military Status Quo on Taiwan.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited Taiwan a week ago. To enhance her reputation in international affairs as she may be nearing the end of her political career, Pelosi pledged U.S. support for the self-governing island and its democracy . The leadership in Taipei warmly welcomed her remarks. After all, it was the most major visit by a U.S. official to Taiwan in the previous 25 years. But the moment's symbolism gave the door to a ferocious backlash from China. Pelosi's visit was criticized by Beijing, which sees Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, as a dangerous provocation and proof that Washington is weakening its official position on the island. Even while it has long maintained close but unofficial political, economic, and military ties with Taipei, the United States neither contests nor supports Beijing's claim to Taiwan. Following Pelosi's visit, China was set to conduct live-fire naval drills, launch ballistic missiles, and conduct a