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Claims that Congressional Trips to China Don’t Breach ‘One China’ Policy Are False

Aug. 5, 2022 (EIRNS)—In the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s provocative act of “extreme irresponsibility,” national elected officials from all over NATO countries are claiming that such Congressional Member Delegations or other congressional or parliamentary shows in Taiwan are “routine” and do not violate the One-China policy. Germany’s Green Party war-hawk Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is now planning her October trip there.

These claims are simply false. Here are the key words of the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America (December 16, 1978), known as the 1979 U.S.-China Communiqué, because the policy took effect Jan. 1, 1979:  “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.”

Even restraining the impulse to ridicule, it is impossible to call Pelosi’s, or Baerbock’s upcoming trip, “cultural.” Nor were any commercial activities or prospects discussed “with the people of Taiwan.” Pelosi’s trip was as political, and as “official” (given her position) as it could possibly be; so would Baerbock’s be. The One-China policy is patently violated, and appears to be essentially abandoned, as diplomat and China expert Chas Freeman told EIR during the trip. When the likes of U.S. Senators Rubio or Menendez claim to be adhering to “One China,” they mean to be understood that Taiwan is not part of China at all. This also cannot be squared with the plain language above, in which the words “within this context” cannot be understood except that Taiwan is part of China.

Probably closely related, is that Bloomberg News reported from White House sources Aug. 4 that the Biden White House had been “furious” at Pelosi trying to “crown her career” at the expense of 45 years of American policy and world peace; and that Pelosi outrageously said she would “consider canceling” if Biden asked her publicly to do so. If this report is true in actual substance, Joe Biden has received—at least—a signal from the Democratic Party leadership that he will not be its candidate for President in 2024.

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