Nancy Pelosi: 'Pot calling the kettle black' - Pearls and Irritations

Nancy Pelosi said of my recent 7.30 interview ‘it is not in the security interest of the Asia-Pacific region for people to talk that way’ – that is, of my remarks in respect of Taiwan.

This is from the former leader of the US House of Representatives who, in a recklessly indulgent visit to Taiwan in 2022, very nearly brought the United States and China to a military confrontation – for the first time since the Second World War.

In fact, Pelosi had to be warned by her president, Joe Biden, and with him, the Pentagon, of the military risks of her visit. President Biden, in strong and public language directed to Pelosi said, ‘the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now’.

But this is the same Nancy Pelosi who thinks my remarks about ‘One China’ – a policy which the whole world recognises as one country, China and Taiwan – are in some way out of line.

Both the United States and Australia subscribe to the ‘One China’ policy and have done so since President Nixon and Chairman Mao met in 1972 to put the policy into place.

And both our countries believe it is in no one’s interest for Taiwan to be subject of some sort of violent takeover. This is why I said on 7.30 last week that Chinese and Taiwanese interests will ‘get resolved socially and politically over time.

That’s what will happen there’.

Obviously, in being asked a truncated question by 7.30, Nancy Pelosi would have been unaware that I had also said that Taiwan ‘will get resolved socially and politically over time’, i.e., between the two parties, without the need of confrontation or violence.

That said, I make this clear. In public comment, I represent the national interests of Australia, not the national interests of the United States nor indeed, the interests of Taiwan. I have remarked a number of times that so-called democratic choices by Taiwan are not central or interests vital to Australia any more than say, the absence of democratic forms in countries like Cambodia or Laos are vital to Australia.

The ABC, as the national broadcaster, would do better to represent Australian strategic interests when it has the opportunity, rather than being excited by sensationalist comment from a person who shares not a jot of identity with Australian national interests.

PJ Keating
13 August 2024

The military control of Australia