Pelosi and China: The making of a progressive hawk

When Chinese officials chased Nancy Pelosi out of Tiananmen Square 31 years ago, the incident launched a surprising foreign policy approach that has pitted her against presidents of both parties and at times aligned her with conservatives.

Now, she wants to bookend her career on the world stage with a trip to Taiwan — whether the White House likes it or not.

The speaker’s strong progressive streak on global affairs dates back to her tenure atop the House Intelligence Committee and the panel that controls the State Department’s budget. She voted against the...