(Headline USA) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., claimed sexism is behind China’s criticism of her trip to Taiwan this week, and dismissed the regime’s threat of retaliation.
“They made a big fuss because I’m speaker, I guess. I don’t know if that was a reason or an excuse because they didn’t say anything when the men came,” Pelosi said, referencing when Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, visited Taiwan in April.
Pelosi: “They didn’t say anything when the men came.” A reference to the fact that in April, US senators Lindsey Graham, Bob Menendez, Richard Burr, Ben Sasse, Rob Portman, and Ronny Jackson visited Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/TwW8t36Bxy
— Melissa Chan (@melissakchan) August 3, 2022
Pelosi landed in Taiwan on Tuesday after a week of heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. Chinese officials demanded that Pelosi cancel the trip, and U.S. defense officials even warned her not to go.
However, Pelosi insisted that the U.S.’s relationship with Taiwan is too important. During her visit to the island, she called the U.S.’s alliance with Taiwan “crucial,” especially amid the “struggle between autocracy and democracy in the world.”
The White House, however, distanced itself from Pelosi’s trip, releasing a statement that it does not support Taiwanese independence.
“We have repeatedly said that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We have said that we do not support Taiwan independence,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby during a press conference.
“We have said that we expect cross-straight differences to be resolved by peaceful means.”
KIRBY: “We do not support Taiwan independence.” pic.twitter.com/IeBiWtSwfq
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 1, 2022
