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Transcript/Script
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: PELOSI TAIWAN
HEADLINE: Pelosi Meets Taiwan Lawmakers in Taipei
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 8/3/22 at 3:58 am
BYLINE: Michael Brown
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: wpm
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV __ RADIO __
TRT: 2:55
VID APPROVED BY: wpm
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Taiwan political leaders in the capital, Taipei, Wednesday, as China showed its dissatisfaction over the visit by conducting military maneuvers outside the territory it claims as its own. VOA’s Michael Brown reports.
((NARRATION))
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, becoming the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island claimed by China.
((Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives))
"I just hope that it's really clear that while China has stood in the way of Taiwan participating and going to certain meetings, that they understand that they will not stand in the way of people coming to Taiwan. That's a show of friendship, of support, but also a source of learning about how we can work together better in collaboration. So, yeah, no, I think that that they made a big fuss because I'm speaker, I guess, I don't know if that was a reason or an excuse because they didn't say anything when the men came.
((NARRATION)) During the visit, Tsai presented Pelosi with a medal for her contributions to the island territory.
Speaking later at Parliament, Pelosi said she considered it a great honor to be referred to as a "good friend” of Taiwan, adding that she and the congressional delegation that accompanied her came to Taiwan with a specific purpose.
((Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives))
"On our visits as Congressional delegations, we have three purposes. One is security, security for our people, global security. Two is economics, to spread as much prosperity as possible. And three is governance.
((NARRATION))
Based on its response, China holds a different interpretation of Pelosi's visit, launching a series of joint military operations around the island Tuesday night in retaliation for what it called a recent major escalation of negative acts by the United States on the Taiwan question, and a serious warning against separatist activities seeking what it called "Taiwan independence".
The Biden administration, and Pelosi, say the United States remains committed to the so-called one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.
((John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesperson:))
"We said we do not support Taiwan independence. And we said, as I said again yesterday, that we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means. And we have communicated this directly to the P.R.C. at the highest levels, including in last week's call between President Biden and President Xi."
((NARRATION))
But it remains unclear if the fall out over Pelosi's Taiwan visit will be overshadowed by earlier stops in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, where President Biden said she has already accomplished some important conversations.
((Michael Brown, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
