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Nancy Pelosi’s Remarks on Taiwan Trip Marred by Abysmal Gaffe
TownhallDec 05, 2022
The Facts
According to an official Chinese document released on Wed., China has withdrawn its pledge not to send troops or administrators to Taiwan if it takes control of the island - a promise previously included in the 1993 and 2000 white papers.
The updated document is titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era." The "new era" is often associated with Pres. Xi's rule, who is expected to secure a third term as China's president later this year.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
The political landscape has changed since the previous white papers were released and this is a much needed update to address the current tensions. The new document isn't a threat, but rather makes clarifications about what circumstances would require China to use force, and reaffirms the goal of reunifying China and Taiwan using peaceful measures.
Anti-China narrative
If China truly cared about Taiwan's political autonomy, it wouldn't be scratching the promises it made in its previous white papers. The removal of its pledge not to send troops, coupled with the recent military drills in the Taiwan Strait, serve as a warning that the sovereign state and its Western allies should prepare to defend the island from a likely invasion.
