Pelosi’s Taiwan Date Is a Headache for Biden
The diplomatic flare-up comes at a delicate time — the US president is due to speak to his Chinese counterpart in the coming days, and this could throw any detente off course.
Military recruitment billboards in Taipei.
Photographer: Lam Yik Fei/BloombergThe timing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s proposed trip to Taiwan puts President Joe Biden in a bind. Having drawn threats and condemnation from Beijing, the visit risks undermining any fruits of a planned call between Biden and China’s Xi Jinping. For Pelosi to postpone or cancel, though, would leave the impression of a US administration backing down in the face of Chinese belligerence.
Questioned on Pelosi’s reported plans to lead a delegation to the self-governing island next month, Biden said Wednesday that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now.” That looks convenient, placing any decision to abort in the hands of an apolitical third party. The president said he expects to speak to Xi within the next 10 days, and doesn’t know the status of Pelosi’s trip.