The President of the US House of Representatives is in Taiwan despite China’s warnings not to take such a step which escalates relations between Beijing and Washington.

Beijing said it would launch “targeted military operations” over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. In particular, the Chinese military has been put on high alert and will launch military operations in response to the visit of US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan, China’s Ministry of Defence announced yesterday.

At the same time, as reported by APA MPA, the Command of the Eastern Administrative Region of the People’s Liberation Army announced that it will conduct joint military operations near Taiwan as of last evening and will proceed with trials of conventional missiles in the sea area east of Taiwan.

According to Euronews, the drills will include joint air and sea exercises in the north, southwest, and northeast of Taiwan, long-range firing in the Taiwan Strait, and missile trials in the sea area east of Taiwan, the Eastern Command said.

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Sending the clear message to China that the US commitment to a democratic Taiwan is more important than ever, the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, arrived in Taiwan in the afternoon.  

“The visit of our congressional delegation to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,” Pelosi said in a statement shortly after her plane landed.

“America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important than ever, as the world is faced with a choice between autocracy and democracy,” she said, APA MPA reports.

Prior to Pelosi’s arrival, Chinese Su-35 fighter jets were crossing the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the island claimed by Beijing, Chinese state television CGTN reported shortly before Nancy Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan.

The announcement came ahead of an expected visit by US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei. Such an initiative is seen as a serious provocation by China that could exacerbate tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Also read: USA | “We will defend Taiwan militarily in the event of a Chinese invasion”