The tallest building in Taiwan displayed a strong message Tuesday night ahead of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s expected arrival.
Taipei 101, the nation’s tallest building, was lit up with messages such as “Welcome to TW [Taiwan],” “Speaker Pelosi,” and “TW [heart] US.”
A message from #Taiwan’s tallest building: Taiwan loves the US. pic.twitter.com/RHudqp8Lnv
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) August 2, 2022
Pelosi is slated to visit Taiwan despite China’s escalating threats. China alleged Pelosi’s visit would “seriously violate” the one-China policy and “severely endanger China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said.
Taiwan is a self-governing island just off the coast of China. The U.S. has long recognized the “0ne-China” policy, but still has an unofficial relationship with the island.
Pelosi is expected to be the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in decades. (RELATED: Chinese Ships, Warplanes Taunt Taiwan As Pelosi’s Plane Nears Contested Island)
China told its citizens Friday to “prepare for war” and promised a “forceful” response should Pelosi make the official trip. Debate over Pelosi’s trip seems to have divided the U.S., with President Joe Biden recently telling reporters the military believes Pelosi’s trip is “not a good idea.”
“I think that the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” Biden said. “But I don’t know what the status of it is.”
White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby said Monday the U.S. does “not support Taiwan independence.”