Pelosi’s panic-mongering

Washington has infringed upon the red lines drawn by Beijing. US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the first in the last 25 years by any senior official, was not only uncalled for but also devoid of logic. It has furthered a sense of panic. But it seems the White House is hell bent upon playing with the firewalls as it looked the other way. The window-dressing that Pelosi is all empowered, in her legislative capacity to decide, and the visit is not part of US strategy in the region has no takers. The point that Beijing has exercised extreme patience and has not opted for trigger-happiness is appreciated. On the other hand, a provocative narrative by Pelosi that the US would not abandon the island, even at the cost of taking China head-on, is reflective of brinkmanship.

The dichotomy in US foreign policy towards China needs some plain-talking. Washington swears by One-China policy, and to this day has not recognised Taipei. But when it comes to jingoism, the island-state is a perfect flashpoint for the US to browbeat the Chinese. But this time around, the timing is quite unnerving amid global recession and the Russo-Ukrainian war. At this point, pinching China over Taiwan legitimacy speaks of paranoid assumptions and a myopic approach. Though not clear what Pelosi has attained by her hip-hop to Taiwan, it goes without saying that it has undermined US interests in the region. The Sea of South China, the QUAD and dealing with ASEAN are factors that will need Chinese largesse, and the Taiwan visit has fractured limbs in all of these arenas.

The US should strike a balance while dealing with Taipei and Beijing, and be assured that nothing can come at the cost of derailing Sino-US relations. Fifty years ago, when Pakistan served as a bridge to persuade the US to adopt One-China policy, it was a master-stroke of diplomacy. Even today, Islamabad maintains that good relations is a must with both the flanks of east and west — and there should not be camp politics. Thus, President Joe Biden must take a cue and run down emotions on Taiwan. A viable détente is the way to go.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2022.

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