U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued defending her visit to Taiwan during her first press conference since returning to the U.S. Pelosi reiterated that the U.S. should not let China isolate Taiwan, and that it had no right to dictate who is allowed to visit Taiwan. She also said the U.S. should not allow China to establish a new normal in which it continues with its intense military drills in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s representative to Washington Hsiao Bi-khim said in an interview that Taiwan would continue welcoming international friends to visit.

In her first press conference after returning to the U.S., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to speak up for Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi
US House speaker
We will not allow China to isolate Taiwan. And they may keep them from going there, but they are not keeping us from going to Taiwan.

After Pelosi’s visit, China ramped up its military activity in the Taiwan Strait, which continues to this day. Pelosi says the U.S. can’t let China establish that as a new normal.

Nancy Pelosi
US House speaker
Their pretext was our visit for them to do what they normally do, intensified. And they didn’t do it when the Senate went, under Chairman Menendez of the foreign relations committee. They just decided to do it this time. I think that what we saw with China is that they were trying to establish sort of a “new normal” and we just can’t let that happen.

Pelosi stated that Washington supported the status quo, and that her visit did not violate the U.S. policy on Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances.

Nancy Pelosi
US House speaker
Our purpose in going to Taiwan was to say that we have this strong relationship built on status quo, which we support.

Before her visit, U.S. President Joe Biden had said that the U.S. military did not think Pelosi visiting Taiwan was a good idea. Pelosi denied that the military had told her delegation not to visit Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi
US House speaker
Actually, I think minimize the impact of the Chinese on our troops. So they took very good care of us. I don’t remember them ever telling us not to go, the military.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s representative to Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, echoed the U.S.’ stance on the visit during an interview with U.S. media outlet CNN.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Taiwan’s representative to Washington
I think the people of Taiwan will continue to welcome international friends who are in Taiwan to extend their support and help in terms of supporting Taiwan’s international space and Taiwan’s survival. [China is] trying to intimidate us from making friends and they are also trying to threaten friends from visiting us. We can’t let this become a regular pattern.

Hsiao said that Taiwan would not succumb to China’s provocations, adding that Taiwan wanted to engage with the world, protect peace and breathe freedom.