Pelosi Issues Press Release on Taiwan Visit 裴洛西結束訪台行程 官網聲明力挺台灣

After the visit, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a press release to support Taiwan and said China cannot prevent world leaders or anyone from traveling to Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker: “...in the future, and we share your love of Taiwan.”

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed Taiwan for South Korea on Aug. 3 following her 19-hour visit. A press release immediately popped up as soon as she departed, which included statements such as "Our Congressional delegation's visit should be seen as a strong statement that America stands with Taiwan" and "They cannot prevent world leaders or anyone from traveling to Taiwan" in reference to China.

Douglas Hsu, Director General, Dept. of N. American Affairs, MOFA: “We will always welcome any member of the U.S. Congress to visit Taiwan, including Speaker Pelosi. We also believe that no country should use this as a justification for provocative behavior.”

Pelosi also tweeted a video of her visit to Taiwan, which included scenes of Taiwanese people enthusiastically holding up signs in welcome and footage from a non-public meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen. Taipei 101 was featured twice. It appears that Pelosi was very satisfied with her visit. Scholars said the visit shows the bilateral relationship is close and China's decision to hold military exercises in response to her visit is intended to humiliate.

Wang Chih-sheng, Chair, Association of Chinese Elite Leadership: “The various opinions in the international community in support of this position may gradually follow Pelosi's thinking and attitude.”

Fan Shih-ping, Professor, Dept. of East Asian Studies, NTNU: “After Pelosi returns to the U.S., she will actively use her remaining time in office to actively propose some Taiwan-friendly laws and invite Tsai Ing-wen to deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress. I think that's imminent.”

The Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations was scheduled to hold a hearing on the Taiwan Policy Act on Aug. 4, but it was postponed, supposedly because the committee chair had other issues to deal with, although some connected it to Pelosi's visit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs chimed in that it was postponed because the committee had to deal with NATO proposals and it will continue to maintain close communications with the Senate and monitor the progress of the act.

美國眾議院議長裴洛西3日結束19小時訪台行程，搭機前往下一站韓國，飛機離台之後，裴洛西官網立即發布聲明，表示國會代表團訪台應被視為美國與台灣站在一起的強力聲明，並指出儘管中國在國際上處處打壓台灣，但他們無法阻止世界領導人或任何人造訪台灣，力挺國際與台灣合作。

外交部北美司長徐佑典表示：「不管是裴洛西議長或是其他美國國會議員到台灣來訪問，我們一直都是保持歡迎的態度，也認為任何國家不應該以此做為理由，來進行任何的挑釁行為。」

裴洛西也在推特公布訪台紀錄影片，不但有國人熱情舉牌歡迎，更曝光與總統蔡英文的不公開會議畫面，台北101則2度入鏡，顯然對台灣行程相當滿意。學者分析，裴洛西此行表示台美關係更緊密，而中國在她離台後軍演，是意圖羞辱。

中華亞太菁英交流協會理事長王智盛認為：「國際社會上各式各樣的言論，支持的這種立場，可能也都會逐漸地效法裴洛西這樣子的一種說法跟態度。」

台師大東亞系教授范世平則表示：「我必須要講裴洛西回到美國之後，她會積極用她僅剩下的任期，積極的推動一些友台法案，那邀請蔡英文到美國國會演講，我認為是指日可待。」

不過美國參議院外委會原訂4日審理「台灣政策法案」，但稍早以主席須參與院會事宜為由，決定延期。由於裴洛西剛結束訪台，延期時間點引發聯想，外交部表示，參議院是因為先推進北約議案才延遲，會持續與美國國會保持密切聯繫，關注法案進度。