A teasing clash has erupted
between former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating and former U.S. House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding Taiwan, following Pelosi’s sharp reproval of
Keating's comments about the territory.
Pelosi called out Keating for
his latest remarks in which he referred
to Taiwan as “Chinese real estate.” In an interview with ABC’s 7.30 program,
Pelosi answered, “That’s absurd. It is not Chinese real estate, and he should
know that. Taiwan is Taiwan, and it is the people of Taiwan who have a autonomy
there. I think that was a stupid declaration.”
Keating swiftly responded on
Tuesday, accusing Pelosi of nearly igniting a military conflict between the
U.S. and China during her 2022 visit to Taiwan, which he described as
"recklessly indulgent." He pointed out that even President Joe Biden and
the Pentagon had warned Pelosi about the potential military risks of her visit.
Pelosi’s go to see Taiwan in
August 2022 marked the first by a U.S. House Speaker in 25 years. The trip,
intended to show bear for Taiwan, led to a strong response from Beijing, which
conducted four days of military drills in response.
Keating, who has consistently claimed
against Australia being drawn into a dispute over Taiwan, attacked the ABC for
not providing Pelosi with the full circumstances of his views. He reiterated
that his stance constitutes Australia’s national interests, not those of the
U.S. or Taiwan, and highlighted that the
resolution of Taiwan’s status should be attained socially and politically over time.
Australia’s official position
on Taiwan is complex, adhering to a "one China policy" since 1972,
which acknowledges the government of the People's Republic of China but remains
ambiguous about Taiwan’s status. The Australian government continue unofficial
economic and cultural relations with Taiwan and has indicated concerns about
Beijing’s military buildup, opposing any unilateral changes to the status quo
across the Taiwan Strait.
Keating’s comments also drew a
response from current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who admitted Keating's well-known views but emphasized that
his government is focused on addressing the needs of Australia in 2024.
