The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– Aug 3, 2022; Day 333

An avoidable crisis: on the Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit

China and the U.S. don’t want a conflict (An open clash between two opposing groups), but their actions are not serving their cause

The visit to Taiwan by the U.S. House Speaker and veteran (A person who has served in the armed forces) Democrat politician, Nancy Pelosi, has risked triggering (Cause to start, provoke or initiate (usually something negative or violent)) a fourth Taiwan Strait crisis and a dangerous escalation amid already worsening relations between the world’s two biggest powers. Ms. Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years — the first by a House Speaker since Newt Gingrich’s trip in 1997. That visit took place in the aftermath (The consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)) of the third Taiwan Strait crisis, when China conducted missile tests in response to then Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui visiting the U.S. In a phone call on July 28, U.S. President Biden sought to assure his counterpart, Xi Jinping, that “the U.S. policy has not changed”. But that does not seem to be the view in Beijing. As China’s Foreign Ministry put it on August 2, in its view, Washington, going back to the days of the Trump administration, has been gradually “hollowing out” (to remove the inside of (something)) its “One China Policy”. In the call, Mr. Xi warned Mr. Biden that “those who play with fire will perish (to become destroyed or ruined) by it” and said he “hoped that the U.S will be clear-eyed” about the consequences. Beijing has responded by announcing military drills ((military) the training of soldiers to march (as in ceremonial parades) or to perform the manual of arms) near Taiwan. More countermeasures (An action taken to offset another action) could follow.

This latest crisis comes at a time when China-U.S. relations are already on edge. This explains why even officials in the Biden administration and the U.S. military had called on (Have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to) Ms. Pelosi to reconsider. Ironically (Contrary to plan or expectation), that prospect was likely diminished by China’s stern (Severe and unremitting in making demands) public warnings, which all but ensured the trip would go ahead as a cancellation would have been politically costly for the Biden administration. Domestic political considerations appear to be driving both sides into their respective corners in this entirely avoidable crisis. Mr. Xi is three months away from a politically sensitive Party Congress that will mark the start of his third term. White House officials have made the point that Ms. Pelosi represents a different branch of government and members of Congress have travelled previously to Taiwan. That the visit appears to have been driven largely by Ms. Pelosi, who has been sharply critical of China’s policies in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, rather than by the Biden administration, has not appeared to have assuaged (gain the good will of) Beijing. A sharp response, in Beijing’s view, would dissuade (Turn away from by persuasion) other countries from engaging with Taiwan at higher political levels. It may also burnish (improve) Mr. Xi’s status at home. The fact that neither side wants, nor can afford, a military confrontation (A hostile disagreement face-to-face) may yet see the current tensions defused (calm) with each side walking away and claiming a show of strength for their domestic audiences. The latest crisis has, however, made clear the perilous (Fraught with danger) state of relations between the world’s two biggest powers. It is unlikely to be the last.

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