America's meeting with disaster

With CNN's report on Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to China's Taiwan region, the U.S. is setting up a meeting with disaster. Pelosi being speaker of the House of Representatives means she will be the most senior U.S. politician to travel to Taiwan since her predecessor Newt Gingrich's trip in 1997.

Pelosi's visit cannot be construed as a personal one. Consequently, it represents a slap in the face of the one-China principle which has been the cornerstone of Sino-U.S. relations as well as peace and economic development in East Asia since China's opening up.

The one-China principle acknowledges that there is only one Chinese government with the U.S. giving official diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Thus, Pelosi's visit sends out a dangerous mixed signal. At best, the visit disrespects China's sovereignty while at worst the optics suggests Washington is conducting state-to-state relations and seeks to disrupt peaceful reunification.

When it comes to Taiwan's economy it is highly integrated with the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, which make up about 50 percent of Taiwan's exports. This will only increase as China and the rest of East Asia continue to develop together. Furthermore, Beijing's "One Country, Two Systems" ensures that Taiwan's governing system will be protected.

The fact is, the U.S. cares little about Taiwan residents, as it is them who would be on the front line of any potential geopolitical conflict that could ignite due to miscalculation. Certainly, in light of the "Pelosi insult," Beijing has every right to make an appropriate response, which I expect will take the form of increased military drills.

Such a military response would not be an overreaction considering that a U.S. carrier group is heading towards Taiwan to coincide with Pelosi's visit. In addition, Japan recently sent a parliamentary security group headed by the China Hawk Shigeru Ishiba to discuss plans for a possible conflict with Tsai Ing-wen. Clearly, through folly or planning, tensions are being ratcheted up.

With CNN's report on Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to China's Taiwan region, the U.S. is setting up a meeting with disaster. Pelosi being speaker of the House of Representatives means she will be the most senior U.S. politician to travel to Taiwan since her predecessor Newt Gingrich's trip in 1997.

Pelosi's visit cannot be construed as a personal one. Consequently, it represents a slap in the face of the one-China principle which has been the cornerstone of Sino-U.S. relations as well as peace and economic development in East Asia since China's opening up.

The one-China principle acknowledges that there is only one Chinese government with the U.S. giving official diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Thus, Pelosi's visit sends out a dangerous mixed signal. At best, the visit disrespects China's sovereignty while at worst the optics suggests Washington is conducting state-to-state relations and seeks to disrupt peaceful reunification.

When it comes to Taiwan's economy it is highly integrated with the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, which make up about 50 percent of Taiwan's exports. This will only increase as China and the rest of East Asia continue to develop together. Furthermore, Beijing's "One Country, Two Systems" ensures that Taiwan's governing system will be protected.

The fact is, the U.S. cares little about Taiwan residents, as it is them who would be on the front line of any potential geopolitical conflict that could ignite due to miscalculation. Certainly, in light of the "Pelosi insult," Beijing has every right to make an appropriate response, which I expect will take the form of increased military drills.

Such a military response would not be an overreaction considering that a U.S. carrier group is heading towards Taiwan to coincide with Pelosi's visit. In addition, Japan recently sent a parliamentary security group headed by the China Hawk Shigeru Ishiba to discuss plans for a possible conflict with Tsai Ing-wen. Clearly, through folly or planning, tensions are being ratcheted up.

（CGTN）