Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday on a visit she said demonstrates a steadfast American commitment to the Chinese-claimed self-governed island.
Pelosi and the rest of her team departed from a U.S. Air Force cargo plane at Songshan Airport in downtown Taipei following a nighttime landing on a trip from Malaysia to begin a visit that threatens to drag U.S.-Chinese ties to an all-time low.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday on a visit she said demonstrates a steadfast American commitment to the Chinese-claimed self-governed island.
Pelosi and her entourage were welcomed by Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, and the highest U.S. official in Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk.
Pelosi said in a statement shortly after arrival that "America's support with Taiwan's 23 million people is more crucial than ever as the globe faces a choice between tyranny and democracy."
China reacted angrily to her entrance at a time when international tensions were already high due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
China's foreign ministry stated that it registered a strong complaint with the United States, claiming that Pelosi's travel poses a grave threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
China reacted angrily to her entrance at a time when international tensions were already high due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China believes Taiwan to be part of its territory and has never abandoned the use of force to subjugate it. The United States cautioned China against using the visit as a pretext to attack Taiwan militarily.
Pelosi, who is second in line for the U.S. presidency, has been a China critic for decades.
Wednesday morning, Tsai Ing-wen will meet with Pelosi and then have lunch with her, according to the presidential office. Since 1997, Pelosi, along by six other American politicians, has been the most senior U.S. political leader to visit Taiwan.
Before her arrival, Chinese warplanes buzzed the dividing line of the Taiwan Strait. In response to Pelosi's visit, the Chinese military has been placed on high alert and will conduct "targeted military activities," according to the defence ministry.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported live-fire drills and other exercises around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday. The Chinese military scheduled joint air and sea maneuvers near Taiwan beginning Tuesday night.
