Nancy Pelosi's reported plans to travel to Taiwan have upended Washington's political divide, with a rift emerging with President Joe Biden over the visit to the self-governing island.
The last speaker of the House, a Republican, is one of Pelosi's supporters. They want Biden to go even though China is threatening a response.
Pelosi didn't confirm the trip publicly. Biden has not said publicly that Pelosi should not go, and the White House and the speaker's office haven't challenged each other directly.
Biden has made blunting China's rising influence a core part of his foreign policy ethos, but the Biden-China relationship is complicated. China considers Taiwan to be a self-ruled territory and has the power to annex it.
The White House is preparing for another call between Biden and China's President.
The risk that the president could be perceived as not being tough enough on China is being raised by the growing chorus pushing Biden to support Pelosi publicly.
Speaker Pelosi should go to Taiwan and President Biden should make it clear that the Chinese Communist Party can't do anything about it. There is no more self-deterrence. Taiwan is an ally of the US and the speaker of the House of Representatives should meet with Taiwanese men and women who are against Communism.
The White House didn't weigh in on Pelosi's trip, even though she hasn't confirmed it.
The White House doesn't respond directly to Pelosi's possible plans, but they give members of Congress information and context for potential travel. They will make their own decisions.
Ned Price did not talk about any concerns.
"We remain committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability and our 'One China' policy," said Price, referring to the U.S. position that recognizes Beijing as the government of China.
According to officials, the administration is particularly concerned that a convergence of upcoming events could make a Chinese response to a Pelosi visit even stronger and more animated. The Chinese Communist Party congress, which will be held in November, is one of them.
If China believes that its president is being disrespected or that its concerns are being ignored, it could react more forcefully than it has in the past. The G-20 in Indonesia, the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Thailand are all scheduled for October and November. The officials talked about the administration's perspective.
The administration doesn't think that China will interfere with Pelosi's visit or take action against her, but they do not rule out the possibility that China could take action against her. The officials said that the administration doesn't preclude that China could expand its military operations in the South China Sea as a show of strength.
There was no link between the air raid drills and the threats posed by Beijing if Pelosi made the trip.
The Chinese don't understand the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches. The last speaker of the House to visit Taiwan was Newt Gingrich, who was the speaker of the Republican-controlled House.
There are concerns that the Chinese may see Pelosi's visit as an administration move since the Democrats control the House, Senate and White House.
Gingrich supported Pelosi on Monday, asking what the Pentagon was thinking when it warned against her going to Taiwan. We can't protect an American Speaker of the House if we are intimidated by the Chinese communists. It's dangerous.
Mark Esper, a defense secretary during the Trump administration, said Monday that more high-ranking U.S. officials should visit to help shape U.S. policy in the region He said that China shouldn't have veto power over where US officials travel.
If the speaker wants to leave, she should leave.
Mike Pompeo, a Republican who served in the Trump administration, said on Sunday that he would accompany Nancy. I am banned in China but not in Taiwan. You should see you there.
Biden told reporters after he returned from Massachusetts that the military thought Pelosi's visit was not a good idea.
The spokesman for Pelosi refused to speak on Monday. Last week Pelosi said it was important for us to show our support for Taiwan, and that she believed Biden meant that the military was afraid of being shot down.
Pelosi has been unafraid to confront Beijing since she was sworn into congress in 1987. Two years after the Tiananmen Square massacre, she unfurled a banner that said "To those who died for democracy in China." Three years ago, Pelosi voiced her support for the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
She was going to go to Taiwan in April, but tested positive for carbon dioxide.
That's right.
Lisa Mascaro is a congressional correspondent.
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