U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won over some Republican critics for her refusal to give in to bullying from China about visiting Taiwan.
The California Democrat ignored President Joe Biden’s advice about avoiding the tiny island nation and landed there on Tuesday. The move drew warm regards from half the Republicans in the Senate.
Twenty-five GOP senators signed a letter praising Pelosi. “For decades, members of the United States Congress, including previous speakers of the House, have traveled to Taiwan,” a letter signed by the lawmakers said. “This travel is consistent with the United States’ One China policy to which we are committed. We are also committed now, more than ever, to all elements of the Taiwan Relations Act.”
Yet conspicuous among them for not signing the letter was Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott.
In an interview with Newsmax Tuesday, Scott did not say why he declined to endorse his colleagues’ missive about Pelosi. But he said that Pelosi did the “right thing” by going and said her visit was important to shore up U.S. relations with Taiwan.
Scott, who himself visited Taiwan about a month ago, encouraged other lawmakers to make the trip.
While Scott did not discuss his reason for not inking the letter or support for his progressive foe, he did criticize China for creating a climate of tension and ill will.
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“Communist China has decided to be our enemy,” Scott told Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren. Moreover, he said, China is out to “demolish democracies around the world.”
“They’ve already taken away all the basic rights of Hong Kong citizens. What they’re doing with the Uyghurs is disgusting. What they’re doing with people in prison — taking away their organs involuntarily — is disgusting,” said Scott.
“It’s bad enough they are stealing all of our jobs and our technology,” added Scott, and because of the menace China presents, Taiwan needs more friends both in the region and around the world.
“They should be able to choose what kind of government they want – not China choose what kind of government they want,” Scott said.
“Communist China made the threats. We didn’t make the threats to Communist China. … Communist China has decided to be our enemy. We have not decided to be their enemy. America is a welcoming country, we’ve allowed China into the World Trade Organization, and they completely violated all the rules,” he noted.
“So, this is a decision that Communist China has made. They’re the ones who are deciding where they are, just like Russia has decided to be our adversary with regard to Ukraine.”
“That’s a choice these countries are making. We’ve got to make the choice to stand up for democracy,” said Scott.
The senator urged Americans to quit buying Chinese goods, sales of which prop up China’s aggressive military.
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