The latest bluster from Beijing is that Communist China will take “resolute and strong measures” if the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, dares to set foot on the Free Chinese island of Taiwan. Mrs. Pelosi, the Associated Press notes, is second in line to the presidency (first in line if you think President Biden is a hologram). She is reported, by Nikkei’s London Financial Times, to be due for a visit to Taiwan next month.Our sentiment: A warm “Bon Voyage.” It would be terrific to see the third highest ranking American make a visit to Free China. We know, we know. There is always the possibility that Mrs. Pelosi, being a Democrat, will say something to erode the hard line that we, among many others, have tried to do our small part in maintaining. Yet it can’t be said that Mrs. Pelosi lacks for experience, and her even considering such a trip is no small thing.The Communist Chinese have buffaloed mightier mortals. We remember when Ronald Reagan was elected president after a campaign in which he criticized the incumbent, Jimmy Carter, for not more robustly defending Free China. No sooner were the election results in than the Republic of China government issued a statement saying it looked forward to better relations between America and Free China.Even such mild words produced an epic stir fry. The Reagan transition reacted coolly, and the Washington Post accused Free China of trying to make trouble with Red China. The Wall Street Journal issued its famous — or infamous — editorial “Invertebrate Diplomacy.” The People’s Daily answered with a witty riposte called “Invertebrate Journalism.” We recalled all this when President Trump himself eyed a visit to Taiwan.We wouldn’t want our insouciant tone, though, to be interpreted as a lack of appreciation for either Mrs. Pelosi’s predicament or the seriousness of the matter. We understand that China and the Free World are on the brink of war in the straits of Formosa. Our relations with the Free Chinese government, though, are framed by, in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, a regime created by the branch of our government in which Mrs. Pelosi stands at the head.So bollocks to Beijing’s bombast ’bout how a visit to Taipei by Mrs. Pelosi would, as the AP quotes the communist Chinese foreign ministry spokesman as saying, “severely undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, gravely impact the foundation of China-U.S. relations and send a seriously wrong signal to Taiwan independence forces.” The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijiang, should take a bicarbonate of soda and lie down.Not only could Mrs. Pelosi go to Taiwan. The logic is for her to go often. She will see there the only democratically governed province in the world’s most populous country. She will find a free press, a multi-party system, and, importantly, flourishing religions. None of these markers of liberty exist on the mainland that is in the grip of a ruthless Communist Party. She will gain an appreciation of the ideological stakes in the theater.
