Since the US cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established full diplomatic relations with China in 1979, the highest-ranking US political figure who has visited Taiwan has been the speaker of the US House of Representatives. A quarter-century ago, Newt Gingrich, the then-speaker of the House, had a “whirlwind” visit to Taiwan.
However, Gingrich’s congressional visit to Taiwan in April 1997 happened after his three-day trip to China.
This time, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s itinerary covered Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan the four growing and increasingly important allies and partners of the US in the Indo-Pacific region.
The economic sanctions and military and diplomatic threats from Beijing escalated as the US speaker met with Taiwan’s legislature and President Tsai Ing-wen.