Wasn't that after removing the infamous "Taiwan Is Part Of China" from the Taiwan Fact Sheet, and the proposal for expansion of military aid to Taiwan? That old lady is also the US House Speaker, second in line for POTUS succession among other things.

Not exactly irrelevant.

China does look very weak when they behave exactly like North Korea does. They think it's a show of strength, and in a way it is, but it's also a dangerous weakness stemming from fear and insecurity, the kind that may start WW3 some day, and China and particularly the CCP will be wiped off the face of the earth, along with a lot of us.

> Provoked by an old lady flying in and giving a few speeches?

This statement is just ridiculous.

Except The old lady is -

> The order of succession specifies that the office passes to the vice president; if the vice presidency is simultaneously vacant, or if the vice president is also incapacitated, the powers and duties of the presidency pass to the speaker of the House of Representatives

Sure. But many countries have their "weak" spots.

Let Nancy Pelosi go to Catalonia on a military jet, without Spain's approval. It would be a major scandal.

Or hell, if Xi Jinping got around US government on a submarine, and appeared in Texas to support its independence.

All independence is based on having some autonomy (trivial) and no one other calling your bluff.