TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former legislator Shen Fu-hsiung speculated on Friday (Aug. 4) about China's reaction to an eventual meeting between top officials from the U.S. and Taiwan, such as U.S. Speaker McCarthy and Vice President Lai Ching-te on his way to and from Paraguay.
Shen explained that when Taiwanese officials exchange opinions with politicians from the United States or European countries, China's reactions are based on whether they are government officials or public representatives, as they consider the latter less threatening.
Recalling Nancy Pelosi's landmark Taiwan visit, Shen noted that it prompted outrage from China mainly due to the then-U.S. House speaker position," as it is in the third among the United States presidential line of succession." He remarked that a similar response could be anticipated if McCarthy were to visit the nation.
Observers speculated that Speaker McCarthy could visit Taiwan during his planned visit to Japan in September. Earlier this year, Speaker McCarthy canceled his Taiwan trip but met with President Tsai Ing-wen in California in April during her U.S. visit.
At that time, he said there were no current plans to visit Taiwan, but stressed that "does not mean I will not go." Shen remarked that "Speaker McCarthy has his own agenda and thinking. We cannot stop him if he wants to come, and vice versa."
After Pelosi's visit last August, Shen acknowledged that after over a year of preparation, China would likely react differently if McCarthy visited Taiwan this time, saying, "If he does visit Taiwan, the influences will be even more serious than that of Pelosi's visit."