Chinese Nationalists Rap Beijing For Not Shooting Down Pelosi's Plane

As tensions heated up across the Taiwan Strait over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit, ardent Chinese nationalists led by former newspaper editor Hu Xijin were whipped into a frenzy, expecting China's military to shoot down her plane as it entered Taiwan's airspace, Elizabeth Law and Danson Cheong reported for Straits Times.

Photo Insert: Xi, who continues to be derided by the Shanghai CPC clique and billionaires who tag him as a “clown,” has been attacked by ultranationalists for being “weak” since he failed to stop Pelosi from visiting Taiwan.

When that did not happen, many were disappointed and vented their fury on Hu, retired editor-in-chief of the nationalist Global Times tabloid, which is controlled by People’s Daily and which acts as a megaphone for the domestic policy of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu was also unceremoniously relieved of his unstated role as the bugler for xenophobia and Chinese exceptionalism after Chinese President Xi Jinping ranted against global surveys showing that China was the least trusted among developed nations. He wanted a global charm offensive to win support from billions of people around the world.

In a related development, Straits Times global affairs correspondent Benjamin Kang Lim said Taiwan's diplomatic victory over China on the Pelosi visit could be pyrrhic in the long term.

“For Taiwan and its supporters, the whirlwind visit by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week in defiance of Chinese warnings was cause for celebration. But its so-called diplomatic victory could be pyrrhic in the long term, especially if China's military maneuvers become a regular move for extended periods of time,” he said.

Shipping has been affected by China’s firing missiles over Taiwan and the rerouting of vessels, as well as commercial flights, have created economic problems for Taiwan and its trading partners.

Xi, who continues to be derided by the Shanghai CPC clique and billionaires who tag him as a “clown,” has been attacked by ultranationalists for being “weak” since he failed to stop Pelosi from visiting Taiwan.

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