Protesters for and against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan gathered outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where she is staying during her visit, on Tuesday evening.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Media and crowds gathered at Taipei airport on Tuesday to watch the arrival of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
Huang Chao-yuan, a 53-year-old businessman, watched the area near Songshan Airport to watch as Ms Pelosi’s plane landed, calling the speaker’s visit a “historic moment”.
“I am very excited about his visit today, because it is an example that shows that the United States does not have to argue with the CCP, that it can come here if it wants, and whoever invites Taiwan can come here,” said Ms. . Huang. using the acronym for the Chinese Communist Party. “This incident proves Taiwan’s independence.”
Henry Chang, 32, a videographer who was at the airport to witness Ms. Pelosi’s landing, marveled at the novelty of seeing such a prominent American lawmaker arrive.
“It felt like I caught a rare Pokémon,” he said.
He said he was not concerned that the visit could lead to a military conflict. “I feel like a war just couldn’t happen – everyone will get on with their lives,” he said.
A video provided by a Tibetan activist, Tashi Tsering, showed people gathered Tuesday night outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei, where Ms. Pelosi was expected to spend the night. Some of them held up banners that read: “Taiwan public welcomes US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” “Taiwan is helping,” and “Taiwan ≠ China.”
Outside the hotel, several dozen people supporting unification with China protested the visit of Ms. Pelosi: Some called for her to “get out of Taiwan” and some held signs denouncing her.
“It’s bittersweet to see Pelosi land,” said one man in the crowd, Sam Lin, owner of a recycling company. “It is sad to see the rise in cross-strait tensions, but I am also excited to see that our reunification with China is becoming more and more achievable.”
Mr Lin, 50, added: “I don’t want to see a war, but the current cross-strait relations have reached another stage.”
Sam Lin was one of 100 pro-unification protesters Tuesday outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei hotel, where Nancy Pelosi is staying during her visit to Taiwan. Credit… Amy Chang Chien/The New York Times
In contrast to the protest, in the capital’s central business district, Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building and a major landmark on the city’s skyline, was lit up with messages of welcome to Mrs. Pelosi.
In Taiwan, many are used to threats from China, which claims the island as its own territory. A standoff between Washington and Beijing over the speaker’s trip received moderate attention earlier Tuesday. Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, kept mum in the days before Ms. Pelosi, although political advisers close to her have said she welcomes visits from US officials.
In a sign of how many in Taiwan have grown weary of China’s threats, Alexander Huang, a senior official in the China-friendly Kuomintang, said he welcomed Ms. Pelosi and that she had a “rich” schedule ahead of her. island
During her visit, Ms. Pelosi is scheduled to visit Taiwan’s legislature and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, according to a Taiwanese lawmaker and a local official. He is also scheduled to attend a banquet at Taipei Guest House and visit the National Human Rights Museum.
Mr. Huang said the low-key approach to the visit reflected planning designed to avoid exacerbating an already tense situation with China.
“They did not make any statements to the outside world, trying not to antagonize the other side, and did their best to make the situation in the Taiwan Strait not too tense,” he said.
He said he was more concerned about mainland China’s military response, particularly what China might do after Ms. Pelosi leaves. He said it was possible that China would take steps to further isolate Taiwan internationally. In recent years, China has alienated several nations that recognize Taiwan as a country and cut it off from major international agencies such as the World Health Organization.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s military said it would strengthen combat readiness in anticipation of a possible response from China.
— Paul Mozur and John Liu