Pelosi praises McCarthy’s ‘leadership’ after Taiwan meeting

In a rare moment of bipartisanship, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Republican leader Kevin McCarthy's "leadership" after their meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The meeting, which took place in Taipei, was the highest-level visit by US officials to Taiwan in decades. It was seen as a show of support for the island nation, which China claims as its own. Pelosi and McCarthy, who have often been at odds over policy issues, put aside their differences to show a united front in support of Taiwan's democracy and independence. In a joint statement, they said: "We stand with Taiwan and its democracy in the face of continued threats from the Chinese Communist Party. We urge the international community to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations." Pelosi, who has been a vocal critic of China's human rights abuses and its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, praised McCarthy's "leadership" in helping to organize the trip. "Leader McCarthy has been a strong partner in our efforts to hold China accountable and to support Taiwan's democracy," she said. "I appreciate his leadership in making this important visit happen." McCarthy, for his part, thanked Pelosi for her "bipartisan leadership" and said the visit was a "historic moment" for the US-Taiwan relationship. The meeting was not without controversy, however. China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, condemned the visit and warned the US not to interfere in its internal affairs. But Pelosi and McCarthy were undeterred, saying they were committed to standing up for Taiwan's democracy and human rights. "We will continue to work together to ensure that Taiwan remains a beacon of freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region," they said. "We will not be intimidated by China's threats or coercion."