Taipei residents split on Nancy Pelosi visit

Interviews on the streets of Taiwan’s capital revealed mixed feelings about the impending visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – the highest-level U.S. visit since 1997 – which has both Chinese and American officials on-edge.

The first person who spoke to DailyMail.com took an optimistic tone toward the visit in the wake of elevated tensions between Taiwan and China since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“I hope that the relationship between Taiwan and the U.S. can improve a little bit,” said the young man. “So [Pelosi’s] visit should be a good thing for us.”

He brushed off saber-rattling from China, saying it was a daily reality for Taiwanese people.

“Regarding China’s statements or hateful comments, actually it’s always been like this,” said the first man. “So, we look at it with peace of mind and are not overtly scared.”

An outspoken Chinese pundit was banned from Twitter on Friday for a post calling Pelosi’s planned trip to their democratic neighbor an “invasion,” which entitled the Chinese military to respond in kind.

The second person interviewed was more cynical about whether or not Pelosi’s visit would yield any benefit for Taiwan.

"[The visit] won’t have any real benefit, in the end we are just a chess piece in someone else’s game,” said the second man.

The treat of invasion became more real for Taipei after Russian President Vladimir Putin led his troops into Ukraine in February. In March, a poll found that the Taiwanese had become more willing to go to war to defend the island from the a Chinese attack.

The same poll indicated less confidence that the U.S. would come to the island’s aid in the event of an attack, seeing how the White House did not send troops to Ukraine.

“It is very hard for Taiwan to walk its own path, as we are so nondescript [on the national stage],” said the second interview subject, referring to how many governments are wary of establishing diplomatic ties to avoid Beijing’s ire.

“So this visit doesn’t mean anything, to be honest. It’s just a war of words,” he added.

On Monday, the Pentagon reiterated it does not support Taiwanese independence to placate Beijing’s fears the U.S. was angling to disrupt the diplomatic status quo in the region.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who led the last high-level U.S. delegation to Taiwan in 1997, expressed support for the visit.