Josh Rogin, the Washington Post reporter who broke the news that diplomatic sources "confirm" Nancy Pelosi is set to travel to Taiwan, said Pelosi sees the trip as a way to leave a "legacy" because she "knows she's not going to be Speaker next year" and "might not be in Congress next year."
"At the end of the day, if Nancy Pelosi wants to go to Taiwan, Nancy Pelosi is going to go to Taiwan," Rogin told Washington Post Live. "For her, it's a capstone on a decades-long career of US-China relations. She knows she's not going to be Speaker next year, probably right, and she might not even be in Congress next year, so she sees this as her last chance, she sees this as a legacy item."
Rogin, who writes column after column for the Post lobbying for war, said the trip is justified because, "We have a principle here, which is that Americans can go to other democracies when they want, okay? And dictatorships that are near those democracies can't tell you not to and punish you if you go."NEW: @JoshRogin tells @CapehartJ about reports of Speaker Pelosi plans to visit Taiwan: “Diplomatic sources confirm she is set to go and it will be on the early side of her trip within the next few days… Until she lands, things could change, but that she’s going.” #PostLivepic.twitter.com/U4HeraLy9f
— Washington Post Live (@PostLive) July 29, 2022Diplomatic sources tell me Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan next week is expected to happen, in the early part of her Asia tour. Pelosi's office says trip possible, but not confirmed.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 29, 2022
Chinese state media commentator Hu Xijin of the Global Times said Pelosi's plane should be shot down if it's escorted by by US fighter jets as it's an "invasion."
"If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion," Xijin said in a tweet that has since been censored by Twitter. "The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down."
The Global Times also released a piece noting how China's People's Liberation Army made a post on social media stating, "Preparing for War!"A social media post by the PLA Army which said “Preparing for war” generated over 300,000 thumbs-up in 12 hours, amid high morale among Chinese soldiers ahead of the 95th anniv. of the founding of the #PLA and escalating tensions across #Taiwan Straits. https://t.co/efqunrYp1c
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 29, 2022
"'Preparing for war!' This short social media post by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) 80th Group Army generated over 300,000 thumbs-up in 12 hours on Friday, amid high morale among Chinese soldiers ahead of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the PLA and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Straits," the Global Times reported.The post on Sina Weibo had received more than 19,000 comments as of press time, with many netizens commenting excitedly "PLA soldiers, fighting! We support you guys!"Pelosi wants to inflame tensions with China and risk getting America into yet another war to cement her "legacy."
Some veterans said that they are always prepared to return to the PLA whenever the country needs them, and some netizens also expressed their wish for reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits soon.
The 80th Group Army posted a comment saying, "we must bear in mind the fundamental responsibility of preparing for war and charge on the journey of a strong army." The comment has received 8,000 thumbs-up.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said previously that only those capable of fighting can stop battles, and only those prepared for war don't have to fall into war.
