When exactly in August is all this supposed to take place?
To your last point, if the US sends fighter jets to escort Pelosi and Pompous all the way to TW, are you speculating China will attempt to shoot down the US 5th gen fighters vs rather than shooting down the transport aircraft?
If China lets US fly its military aircraft overland of TW whilsts so far having refrained from doing so itself then I dont consider this acceptable.... it would be slap in the face if China lets this slide
It's not confirmed, but no one (definitely not Pelosi herself) has denied a possible visit.
Type of fighter is irrelevant, but I highly doubt they will send 5th gen fighters for conversations' sake.
As you said, it would be unacceptable to allow US armed (or arms capable) aircraft to fly into Taiwan. They have previously allowed unarmed military transports. So yes, I think China would shoot down such an aircraft flying over Taiwan if they do not back off.
This would be an exceedingly risky tactic for the American side because China would have very little to lose with such an action.
If America indulges the inevitable call for blood, it is not really in a good position to wage a war due to the economy and the war in Ukraine that has sucked up various military assets.
If they don't engage, then this is an extremely bad look. How can they continue to say they will support Taiwan in a war if they aren't even defending themselves?
The US can try to escort with unarmed fighters and say this is the action of a murderous regime if a shootdown happens, but when it comes down to it, Taiwan even by the American's own calculation is Chinese territory. Hard to start a direct war over someone else's property. Again, if unwilling to start a war, then you literally sent someone on a suicide mission for nothing.
The best the US can do is send a plane, and the PLAAF merely flares/chaffs it. Even then, it is not without risk, airborne collision, mechanical failure. If Pelosi lands safely, then you can try to sell it as a win. "Look at the danger we went through to prove our friendship!" However, very risky to send a high ranking official on such a mission without a clear goal other than "embarrassment".