Pelosi in Taipei: 'Benjamin Franklin, He Said: Freedom and Democracy ... Are One Thing, Security Here' (August 3, 2022)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood beside Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and reached for a Founding Father. “I said at a meeting earlier with the parliamentarians: in our earliest days of our founding of our country, Benjamin Franklin, he said: freedom and democracy, freedom and democracy are one thing, security here. If we don’t have – we can’t have either, if we don’t have both,” Pelosi said in Taipei on Aug. 3, 2022, according to her office’s own transcript [1].

“So security, economics, the security economy, and again, they’re all – and governance. They’re all related,” she said [1].

The video above shows Pelosi’s remarks in Taipei on Aug. 3, 2022. Quotes are from Pelosi’s office and NPR [1][2].

”Because I’m Speaker, I Guess”

A Taiwanese reporter asked about China’s response. “And the final question is – sorry, sorry. The final question is, how do you see how the Chinese welcomed you with military exercise and sanctions against Taiwan? Do you foresee that?” [1]

“So yeah, no, I don’t – I think that, that 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. The transcript notes laughter [1].

“The second part was – the second part was – that was the third part, but I’ll go there. Okay. That was the third part, I thought,” she said [1].

”Rattling a Saber”

Pelosi said China’s leader might be insecure. “And that there are certain insecurities on the part of the President of China as to his own political situation that he’s rattling a saber, I don’t know. But I really – it doesn’t really matter,” she said [1].

“I think that whatever China was going to do, they will do in their own good time. What excuse they may use to do it is another thing, but you really know more about that than I do,” Pelosi told the reporters [1].

”Taiwan Has to Pay the Cost”

Another reporter asked who would pay for the trip. “We have seen the Chinese authorities take multiple economic actions against individual Taiwanese companies and entire sectors of the economy here. Taiwan has to pay the cost of your visit, and is likely to continue to do so coming days and weeks. What concrete, tangible benefits can be promised to Taiwan to offset the cost of your trip?” [1]

Pelosi pointed to a new law. “Well, at the same time as this trip is taking place, and in recognition of our common interest economically, we just passed the CHIPS and Science Act,” she said [1].

”This, That and the Other Thing”

On U.S. policy, Pelosi said: “We have our Taiwan Relations Act. We support the communiques, this, that and the other thing that has gone before. So we’re not aware – we are supporters of the status quo and the rest. And we don’t want anything to happen to Taiwan by force.” [1]

She opened with her delegation. “The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Chairman of the – Mr. Meeks,” Pelosi said [1].

”America Stands With Taiwan”

“Our solidarity with you is more important than ever, as you defend Taiwan and their freedom,” Pelosi told Tsai. “Again, our delegation came here to send an unequivocal message: America stands with Taiwan.” [1]

She praised Taiwan on COVID. “And in governance: that, among other things, and in governance, I want to salute Taiwan for the leadership you have had in fighting COVID. Probably one of the highest rates of vaccination, but also the lowest number of deaths from COVID. A real model for the world,” Pelosi said [1].

“So again, I think it’s a great pride for us today: the first woman Speaker in the House, meeting the first woman President of Taiwan,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

25: years since a House speaker had visited Taiwan, per a reporter [1].
11: Chinese missiles fired toward Taiwan the next day, per Taiwan’s Defense Ministry [2].
5: of them landing in waters Japan claims, per NPR [2].
6: zones around Taiwan in China’s live-fire drills, per NPR [2].

What Happened Next

China fired missiles. “Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed 11 Chinese Dongfeng type missiles were fired in Taiwan’s direction between 1:56 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon, local time,” NPR reported the next day [2].

“Five of the missiles fired landed in waters around Taiwan that are part of the Exclusive Economic Zone that Japan oversees and claims economic rights over, risking drawing Japan, a U.S. ally, into the standoff,” NPR reported [2].

“We condemn such irrational action that has jeopardized regional peace,” Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said [2].

“China is in the midst of conducting live-fire military drills in six zones that encircle Taiwan,” NPR reported. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told NPR: “It will create risks and challenges, we think unnecessarily. And so what we are hopeful for is that the PRC acts responsibly and avoids the kind of escalation that could lead to a mistake or miscalculation in the air or on the seas.” [2]

For Pelosi on migrants and Florida’s farms that fall, see HYGO News’ page on Sept. 30, 2022. For Biden on China’s spy balloon the following year, see the page on June 17, 2023.