House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making a controversial stop in Taipei, Taiwan, part of a congressional trip to four Asian countries. Beijing has strongly protested her visit and issued warnings of a harsh response, reflecting the Chinese government's efforts to push back on long-established standards of U.S. engagement with the self-governing island.

“The fairly aggressive statements we’ve had from China over the past few weeks are probably more for domestic than international [consumption]—the Chinese leadership cannot be seen as backing down in any shape or form,” says Ret. Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. “President Xi can’t be seen as backing down from what could be viewed as a challenge by the speaker’s visit to Taiwan and at the same time, politically, the Congress and the [Biden] administration can’t be viewed as backing down, either," he says.

Read more in the Politico article, "Pelosi Taiwan trip overrides Chinese military threats."