House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday slammed China's President Xi Jinping as a "terrible bully," before saying in a separate interview that Beijing was "one of the freest societies in the world." erroneously claimed to be cultivating
"I think he's in a vulnerable crisis," the California Democrat said in an interview withMSNBChe said of Xi.Taiwan Trip Highlights.
"He's having financial problems. He's acting like a frightened bully," Pelosi added.
However, the speaker's criticism could not be translated in a separate interview with NBC's "TODAY" show.
"We will continue to support the One China Policy. We will go there and acknowledge that the status quo is our policy. "There was nothing subversive about it," Pelosi said.
"I just said that China is one of the freest societies in the world," she added. "Don't take it from me, it's from Freedom House." Drew Hamill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, later said the speaker made an unfortunate mistake and replaced Taiwan with Taiwan instead. made it clear that he intended to refer to
"The record of the Speaker of the House speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party in Congress over his 35 years is unparalleled," Hamill tweeted.
Pelosi's office also instructed The Post on his 2021 report, "Freedom in the World" for Freedom House, and gave Taiwan a 94 out of 100 score for "World's Freedom." given freedom.
In a "Today" interview, Pelosi repeated her view that Xi Jinping "has his own insecurities" and is a "bully." 49}
"That's why I'm not going to ask him to do his parliamentary schedule," she said. "Members of parliament can show their support for countries and democracies that are our friends. According to the Taiwan Policy Act, Taiwan is our friend."
China condemned Mr. Pelosi's trip to Taipei last week and implemented sanctions against the speaker and his family. Suspend negotiations with the United States on climate change, military relations, anti-drug efforts, and other issues. Begin large-scale military exercises around Taiwan.
"The countermeasures taken by China in response to Pelosi's provocative visit to Taiwan are legitimate, reasonable, and legal. , aimed at punishing 'Taiwan independence' forces," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Tuesday.
Wang went on to reiterate Beijing's belief that Taiwan was part of China. This belief was recognized but not endorsed by the United States under its One China policy.
"What is the status of the Taiwan Strait? Taiwan belongs to China, and Taiwan is part of China's territory.In other words, the One China principle clearly defines the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.To uphold this principle is to maintain the status quo. To violate and challenge this principle is to change the status quo," Wang added, accusing the United States of "going back to its promises."
Pelosi and other US officials have repeatedly maintained that US policy toward Taiwan will not change.
On Tuesday, the chairman told "TODAY" that the United States still adheres to the "One China" policy but that Washington cannot allow China to "isolate" Taiwan. .
A trip to the island nation made Pelosi the highest-ranking US elected official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in 1997.
President Biden did not publicly support her visit,and said Monday's visit was "her decision." 77}
The president also told reporters on Monday that he was "concerned" about China's response but was "not worried."
"I'm not worried, but I'm concerned that they're still running like they used to."
