NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie was not convinced of the wisdom of Speak Pelosi’s recent trip to Taiwan. Given Beijing’s temper tantrum over the visit, Guthrie wondered “was it worth it” as she infantilized the communist regime by portraying it inevitable.
During an interview with Pelosi, Guthrie asked, “I really want to make sure we get into this because there are reasons to take a trip like that, but as you well know, especially with foreign policy, national security, it often comes down to tradeoffs and timing. Was it worth it, now that you see the response?”
After Pelosi interrupted to declare that it was, Guthrie repeated the question, “Okay, because China has made a series of stunningly aggressive military moves in Taiwan, I mean, unprecedented in terms of the security of Taiwan. Was it worth it to make this trip now if that was the response from China?”
China has been vowing to take Taiwan for the last 73 years. If Pelosi didn’t go, its policy would be the same, but it would feel emboldened to make more demands on the United States after successfully bullying the legislative branch.
After Pelosi defended herself, in part by making reference to the unprecedented hysteria from Beijing, Guthrie portrayed that as inevitable, “Even if it's on the Chinese, I think the administration is clear that whatever crisis is--is-- upon us now, it is the Chinese who are the instigators of this crisis. That said, was it not foreseeable that they would react this way?”
Guthrie also wondered if the trip undermines White House goals, “And on the issue of timing, this comes at the very moment that the Biden administration is trying to work with China to hold off China from rearming Putin in Ukraine. So, as you well know, there are multiple levels of chess here. So, the question is whether a symbolic trip, important as it may be, in any way undermines some of those other also quite important objectives that the administration has.”
Pelosi rejected the “symbolic” description, while also declaring “I think we have to work with China on the subject of climate, but that does not give them license—”
Guthrie interrupted to add another reason to oppose the trip, “They have closed dialogue on that since your visit. I guess that’s the point.”
With the façade of climate cooperation gone, maybe the media can get a better grasp of U.S. interests and hold politicians accountable for failing to defend them, not upsetting Beijing’s fragile ego.
This segment was sponsored by Starbucks.
Here is a transcript for the August 9 show:
NBC Today
8/9/2022
7:37 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I really want to make sure we get into this because there are reasons to take a trip like that, but as you well know, especially with foreign policy, national security, it often comes down to tradeoffs and timing. Was it worth it, now that you see the response? China has taken—
NANCY PELOSI: Absolutely. Absolutely, without any question.
GUTHRIE: Okay, because China has made a series of stunningly aggressive military moves in Taiwan, I mean, unprecedented in terms of the security of Taiwan. Was it worth it to make this trip now if that was the response from China?
PELOSI: I have overwhelming bipartisan support for our visit to Taiwan. As Speaker of the House and with the distinguished delegation that I went there with, we were very well received. Thousands of people in the streets, received by the president of Taiwan, buildings with big welcoming to us. The people of Taiwan welcomed the visit. The Chinese government may not have. But China will not be allowed to isolate Taiwan, but a few months ago, a couple months ago a delegation went from the Senate. It was bipartisan. It was high-powered, including the chairman of the way-- the Foreign Relations Committee.
Nobody said a word. Nobody said a word. Did you even know about that trip? So I'm not going to -- again, as a supporter of democracy in China, but this is about democracy in Taiwan, we cannot allow the Chinese government to isolate Taiwan. They may say to them “you can't go to the World Health Organization,” but they’re not going to say who can go to Taiwan. And yes, it was worth it, what the Chinese are doing is what they usually do.
GUTHRIE: Even if it's on the Chinese, I think the administration is clear that whatever crisis is--is-- upon us now, it is the Chinese who are the instigators of this crisis. That said, was it not foreseeable that they would react this way? And on the issue of timing, this comes at the very moment that the Biden administration is trying to work with China to hold off China from rearming Putin in Ukraine. So, as you well know, there are multiple levels of chess here. So, the question is whether a symbolic trip, important as it may be, in any way undermines some of those other also quite important objectives that the administration has.
PELOSI: Well, it may appear to be symbolic to you, but it was very substantial to us. For us to listen to the people in the region about our full agenda but also not to say “we're not going to Taiwan because the Chinese may act up.” The president, as is his responsibility, is usually in touch with the Chinese about one thing or another. Whether it's climate, and I think we have to work with China on the subject of climate, but that does not give them license--
GUTHRIE: They have closed dialogue on that since your visit. I guess that’s the point.
PELOSI: Well, what—what---what--what-- dialogue were you aware of that they were having on climate.
