During one of her last speeches in Congress, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke out “to highlight what is happening in Hong Kong.” She criticized the Chinese government for going after protester Joshua Wong. Ironically, it was that very attention from Congress that contributed to Wong’s dire situation. Similar to past alliances with Hmong militias and Kurdish fighters, those leading the Hong Kong protests had an uneven relationship with U. S. politicians that could not be reciprocated, which ultimately made them targets.
Pelosi has been at the forefront of discussions about China since the Cold War ended, taking risks throughout her career to defend her strong stance against Beijing. However, being bold doesn’t always equate to being courageous. Over the years, Pelosi wasted political influence on trivial pursuits without achieving significant wins while ordinary people caught between Beijing and Washington faced costs far greater than anything she risked.
This journey began back in 1991 when Pelosi went to Beijing as part of an official congressional trade delegation. Just three days into her visit, she quietly left her hotel without Chinese approval, accompanied by a small group. Her destination was Tiananmen Square, site of the notorious 1989 crackdown that occurred two years prior.
Upon arriving at the square with two colleagues from the House, they displayed a banner reading “To those who died for democracy in China.” The banner was written in both English and Chinese, signaling its intended audience was both American constituents and their Chinese hosts. When local police discovered them there, they began chasing Pelosi and her fellow representatives away as bystanders and journalists were pushed around and forcibly detained for filming.
Her colleague John Miller (R-Wash.) later revealed that this public relations stunt had been planned all along-on a bipartisan level. “We had one major purpose in going to Beijing,” Miller told reporters, “That was to deliver the strongest possible message to the Chinese government leaders that Americans and the American Congress have not forgotten Tiananmen Square.”
Pelosi herself acknowledged that nothing else came out of it. The trip failed “to see or gain the release of prominent imprisoned dissidents or get promises of human rights improvements from officials,” she said. Relations between both nations took a significant nosedive afterward. But according to Pelosi’s third colleague Rep. Ben Jones (D-Ga.), their Tiananmen moment was a “special moment for us.” Indeed it was special-for them alone; ignore the people who suffered at police hands during this event.
A Progressive Hawk Flies to Taiwan
In mid-2022, now Speaker of the House but still unwelcome in mainland China, Pelosi would engage in another act with potentially serious repercussions. She opted to become the first high-ranking American official in over 25 years to meet leaders in Taiwan-a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory.
The news about this trip stirred significant backlash among influential figures back home. Thomas Friedman from The New York Times-hardly pro-China-called Pelosi’s proposed visit “utterly reckless, dangerous and irresponsible.” Intelligence community members cautioned that such a symbolic visit would be seen by China as akin to a military operation regardless of intentions or lack thereof.
The late Deng Xiaoping once remarked that “the main obstacle to better relations between China and United States” stemmed from treating Taiwan “as a U. S. aircraft carrier.” After Pelosi’s visit concluded, China’s military conducted live-fire drills by launching missiles into Taiwan Strait.
President Joe Biden publicly chastised Pelosi yet none of this seemed relevant for her; Politico even labeled her as a “progressive hawk.” During one press conference she casually stated American military officials warned she could be “shot down or something like that.”
However similar support existed again amongst Republicans regarding her actions during Tiananmen Square previously too! House Minority Leader Kevin Mc Carthy(R-Calif) expressed his backing saying America should always speak together! Mitch Mc Connell(R-Ky), Senate Minority Leader declared independently from White House concerns upholds every right visiting Taiwan!. Even former Secretaryof Defense Mark Esperalongwith Mike Pompeo praisedher decision! ”Nancy I’ll gowithyou”, Pompeowroteontwitter”I’m bannedin China butnotfreedom-loving Taiwan”.
Muchlike Tianamen Sqaure experiencein Taiwan achieved no substantial gains whatsoever! No agreements signed nor deals struck! Shelley Rigger tells New Yorker(while Pelosiwasthere)thatthistrip“doesn’tbenefit Taiwan,”itprobablyharmeditssecurityandsurelymadealreadybad U. S.-Chinarelationsworse! strong>
p >A monthafterher departure, Pompeowhosamevisited Taiwanthencomplainedaboutlocalscallinghervisitprovocativeandthreatening! However he dismissedthoseclaims outright:”We shouldneverforgetwho’sthreatening, it’snotgoodpeopleof Taiwan, nor United States!”Onlythreattothearea restswithin Chinese Communist Party! strong>
p >The nuclear option p >Not wantingtobearresponsibilityforrepercussions arisingfrom Americanpoliciesineast Asiaisn’tanythingnew. Even soforthecaseof Joshua Wongoutcomefrom Americanhubrisseemsbitter indeed. Americanpoliticians put Wongindangerwhileraisinghopesforrescuewhichnevercame! strong>
p >Firstreceivinginternationalattentionbackin2014duringhisleadershiprolein Hong Kongs Umbrella Movement, a seriesofanti-governmentprotests comprisedmostlystudentorganisations including Wongs Scholarism &majorcivilsocietygroups. As stipulatedby1997handoveragreementbetween UK&China, Hong Kongguaranteed50yearsoflegislativelegal&economicautonomyunder”onecountrytwo systems”. Howeveroveryears autonomyfacedchallengesanddegradation. In August31st2014, the Standing Committeeof China’s National People Congressannouncedthatpoliticiansrunningforelectionsmust”lovethecountry,”meaning China,”andlove Hong Kong”. Candidateswouldhavebeenscreenedby Beijing&onlyafterapprovalcouldruninthepopularpolls thereof.
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This provedunacceptableformanyincluding Wongwho’d alreadyattractedattentionfrom classmates/local authoritiesforopposingmainlandinterference. Having successfullyledastudentcampaignagainst curriculumchanges pushedby CGovernmentbefore, in2012.
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Though201414protestsfailureinstoppingnewelectionlaw, Wonggainedsupportabroad. Making TIMEmagazinecoveras”The Faceof Protest” &oneof25Most Influential Teens. Otheroutlets calledhim”thenexttankman”, referencingiconic APphotographduring1989Tiananmen Squareprotests. Upon announcement USgovernment’s lukewarm response regarding protests Wall Street Journal report slammed then-President Obama saying”Honk Gonneedsmorethanafewwordsof Obama”.
<<pclass=” mb -44 lg-md-leadingsupporters-breaking-news"
Many U. S. lawmakers like Rep Christopher Smith(R-NJ) desiredmorethanjustthe White House words too!. Thus he drafted Hong Kong Human Rights&Democracy Act imposingeconomicsanctions deemedby Steve Tsang Director University London SOASChina Institute”thenuclearoption”, asthey’d destroy Chinasmainlinktoworldfinancialsystem.
Having metwithnowfamous Wongfirsttime backin2015againin2016& finallymeetingagainin2019. Thefinalmeeting caughtparticularattentionfromthe Chinese Government culminatinginhismostrecentserioustrial.
That Year Chinesegovernmentintroducednewpiecelegislationwhichmanyviewedasdestructive toward”one country, two systems”: amendment Fugitive Offenders Ordinancethatallowedextraditionofsuspectsintomainland Chinaamongothers.
Westernhumanrightsorganizationsincluding Amnesty International&HWRwarnedthatproposedchangesthreatenedanyoneworkinginhkwhohadcarriedworkrelatedto Mainland, suchashumanrightsdefenders, journalists NGOworkersandsocialworkers./P>
Smith revivedhis stalledsanctionsbill-backintheday!
To maintainmomentum, Wongalongotheractivistsspokebefore Congressional Executive Commissionon China. Afterpreviousspeakingengagementsthere&Wongercentlyreleasedprisonpressedorwardagainclaiming-Beijingshouldn’t getbothworlds economicallybenefitingwhileerasingourcivicidentity.”Itenjoysbroad supportacross Hk civil societywhich Iwanteverymember Congress tonotice.”/
Followingupattheeventhostedbythen Speakerwherebilltitlepastedbackdropbehindwhom Wongspeak”No one standsalone,” hereiteratedreportersthenwhen Smithmentionedrequiredpresidentidentify sanction persons via Magnitsky Act within Hk+Mainland next Wong noddinghead beside podium!. Afterfourfailedattemptsbillfinallypassed!
Breaking An Egg Against American Wall
Now22yearold Wong transitionedinstatus morethanjustlocal student leader. Framed now throughlens provided by CGov’t label actively colludingagainst nationthroughforeignofficialsandcurrency warfare-(infamyattached!). Wasn’t easy-being victimized considering2020-Chineseauthorities imposednationalsecuritylaw maximizinglifeimprisonmentcharges againstcollusion foreignpowers./P>
“If hisrenownvulnerability reasonmightalso providepathforward,” Timothy Mc Laughlin Shibani Mahtani authors Among Braveswrote. Althoughauthoritieshadconfiscatedhis HKpassport, Wonghopedsomehowrequest Usasylum. Emaildirectto Pompeoexclaimed:“There’s legitimacydangerbecomingtargetarrestdetention,” requestingus protectionapply asylum includingneedtravel USapplysame.”
Lookingthroughoptions Statedepartmentgethimout HK includedcovertoperations. President Trump himself possiblyfan rescuingdissidents en mass describingthem industrious prospected futuregreat Americans! As ideawasshotdown quickly adviser Stephen Miller asserting couldn’t interfere Wong case confirming-must balance interests-national vs personal. An official shared”Itcomes nationalinterestpersonalinterestsometimes you tryfindbalancebetween…ultimatelyknow On theseventhfloor State Department, nationalinterest won!” It provedimportant USgovernmentgot involved enough affairs creatingdangerbut not save him. Just like conscription Hmongduring Vietnamwar onlyleave behindperishjungleonce rescue efforts became complicated. Also observed mobilizing encouraging Kurds IRAQwatch Saddam Hussein slaughterexpected outcome./P>Upon June2025expectationsmetascharges laidcollusion. Wonthathencaughtpleading guiltylastmonth. How couldhe dootherwise? Congress handed evidence silverplatter-WONG accusedlobbyinternational sanctionsagainst SARorcentral Gov’t requesting USimplementation HKHuman Rights Democracy Act urging western countries Magnitsky-style sanctions! Not yet sentenced. Quoting Japaneseauthor Murakamioften duringadvocacy stagesback20012″When hard wall egg breaksagainstno matter howrightwall wrongegg-sideegg!” Seemingly unwaveringcommitmentprinciples despite USgovernmentaffordshoveshistory shows-American hubriskeeps pushing eggs good badhardhighwalls!.
Post titled Nancy Pelosi Championed AHkong Dissident. May Have Doome D appearedfirst Reason Magazine P >
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