Was this necessary? Nancy Pelosi, third in the US political hierarchy, made a detour to Taiwan on her trip to Asia. Many, especially in Taiwan, had hoped so. Many, especially in Europe, had feared it. The People's Republic of China threatened in advance that this trip would be "playing with fire" that would not end well.
China's President Xi Jinping is currently struggling with considerable economic difficulties, and his compatriots are waiting in vain for the promised increase in their modest prosperity.
Xi might be tempted to compensate for the domestic political calamities with nationalist threatening gestures in foreign policy and be prepared to follow up the martial speech with deeds. Seen in this way, Pelosi's trip to Taiwan was a provocation that she could have done without for the sake of the status quo. While she was able to leave the threatened island unhindered, it is the people of Taiwan who would suffer from possible boycotts and military pin-pricks by China.
But this logic is fatal. And it resembles the one that Europe – Germany in the lead – followed for a long time in its dealings with Russia. The diplomatic slogan has always been that one must not provoke Russia, must not humiliate it, must understand its security interests and its national pride. And don't give him any excuse for aggressive actions.
Not only since February 24, the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, has it been evident that such a policy of appeasement does not ensure a precarious peace, but actually encourages the aggressor to attack. Anyone willing to commit war crimes will commit them when they see an opportunity.
This applies not only in Europe, but worldwide. So also in Asia. China has never been in any doubt that, like Hong Kong, it regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and is willing to incorporate the island. Like Russia, China is unwilling to honor the restraint of the free world. For decades, the People's Republic has been working to delegitimize Taiwan. And also relies on a habituation effect.
The expectation is that the more often the country and the state are denied their right to exist, the more the rest of the world would conform to this view. Just as many in Europe think it would work without a sovereign state Ukraine, many are also convinced that the small but sovereign Taiwan should finally surrender to Chinese superiority.
That's why Pelosi's visit to Taipei was important. It was only a gesture, but a big one. She has made it unmistakably clear that the free world is willing to resist the seduction of habituation. Taiwan means something to her. And should it be much more.
For decades, Taiwan was a dictatorship under Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang. The country has rid itself of this and is now an exemplary democracy, led by the astute President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan has a very vibrant civil society. The economy is booming and the country leads in semiconductor applications. No iPhone in the world would work without Taiwan's industry.
It is a miracle that the country has made it this way within two decades. When we say that Ukraine belongs to us, we must also say that Taiwan belongs to us. On February 24, Putin brought down the old European peace order. The new order, the order of a new free world, should be more widespread. Taiwan is one of them. That's why Taiwan needs to be protected.
