China in Fury as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Visits Taiwan

US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and held a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a move that has greatly infuriated China.

When Pelosi’s aircraft landed on Taiwanese ground, she became the highest ranking US politician in 25 years to visit Taiwan.

The visit comes as tensions between China and Taiwan have been escalating in recent days, in which Chinese fighter aircrafts made maneuvers to provoke Taiwan further, crossing the median line that is the unofficial water divide between China and Taiwan.

The delegation led by Pelosi made it clear that the US will not “abandon” the island, which further irked China.

Pelosi added in an op-ed published in the Washington Post minutes after her arrival that Beijing “proceeds to threaten Taiwan – and democracy itself”.

The White House itself was not amused by Pelosi’s visit, with US President Joe Biden saying that the military assessment was that it was “not a good idea”.

China was more displeased with the visit, with its foreign ministry saying the visit is “extremely dangerous,” and added that the US is “playing with fire”.

Tsai praised the partnership between Washington and Taipei, saying that Taiwan is a “trustworthy and reliable” partner of the US, and added that while Taiwan faces heightened military threats, Taiwan will improve its self-defense capabilities.

Following Pelosi’s arrival, Chinese state media reported that Chinese military jets were crossing the Taiwan strait in an act oppressing Pelosi’s visit.

Moreover, the People’s Liberation Army announced that they will conduct live-fire military drills both in the air and at sea around Taiwan later this week.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and said multiple times that it will do everything to reunite the island with mainland China. (GFB)