This was an excellent discussion despite its relatively short length, just over 18 minutes. Some highlights:

• from the point of view of the Chinese people, China has lost face because Pelosi went to Taiwan after China told the US under no circumstances should she go. This is a BIG deal and it will never be forgotten or forgiven.

• Polling data coming out of Taiwan shows that not only were they not happy to see Pelosi but most people opposed the visit. The end result may be the weakening of the current government, which is supported by the US.

• There are long-term foreign policy implications vis-a-vis the entire region, with many of the political leaders there horrified by the recklessness and arrogance of Pelosi's visit. South Korean leaders declined to meet with her. The ASEAN bloc - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - that have tilted toward the US while remaining friendly with China may well begin distancing themselves from the US.

• This stunt has accelerated China's resolve to re-integrate Taiwan, and that will be their primary focus in the immediate future. Ergo, the vast military exercises that they openly describe as a rehearsal for the blockading of Taiwan. This will affect the supply of microchips produced and exported by Taiwan.

• China will also begin to strengthen and harden their economy in preparation for the inevitable sanctions. They import raw materials and export manufactured goods. They now have a reliable source for the raw materials in Russia and will be working to reduce the importance of exports to the West to their overall economy, which will ultimately have an impact on supply chains and inflation.

• China will begin to actively seek anti-American military alliances, something they have avoided in the past; they've always competed against the US but maintained friendly relations because it was mutually profitable to do so.

As Alex points out, just when you think you've seen peak stupidity and incompetence from this administration, they outdo themselves.