Snap Insight: Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker McCarthy, a calculated move as Taiwan loses its ally
Like the visit of McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei last August, the meeting infuriated China and vowed to retaliate.
DIFFERENT POINTS ON CHINA
Pelosi has often criticized rival McCarthy, a Republican who assumed the highest office in Congress when his party regained control of the House in November 2022, but praised his leadership. and the bipartisan meeting he organized for the Taiwanese leader. Support for Taiwan and a tough stance toward China in general are among the few areas of consensus among US Republicans and Democrats.
McCarthy had originally planned another trip to Taiwan, even promising to go during his re-election campaign, to be seen as tough on China, much like his rival Pelosi.
However, the meeting was held on US soil at the request of Tsai Ing-wen to potentially soften the Chinese response, which reacted strongly to Pelosi’s visit by sending warships closer. islands, breaching air defenses, and conducting live-fire drills.
