- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is in Taiwan for a high-stakes visit, despite warnings from Biden administration officials about China's potential reaction.
- China said the visit would have a "severe impact" on US-China relations, and announced the launch of exercises and "targeted military operations” around Taiwan in response.
- Pelosi is the first House Speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997. She is expected to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday and visit Taiwan's legislature. She said the visit "honors America's
- unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant democracy."
- The visit is part of an Asia tour by a Congressional delegation led by Pelosi, which has already visited Singapore and Malaysia, with plans to visit South Korea and Japan.
- Newspapers across Taiwan on Wednesday were splashed with headlines announcing Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island — and Beijing's threat of countermeasures.
The United Daily News, one of the island's largest newspapers, included a photo of Pelosi's arrival on its front page. Its headline, in large bolded Chinese characters, warned: "Tense situation on the Taiwan Strait."
The Taipei Times, a daily English-language newspaper, described Pelosi's "late-night landing" on the front page and her expected itinerary on Wednesday.
Some context: Within minutes of Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan, China said it would immediately begin "a series of joint military operations around the island," including using long-range live ammunition in the Taiwan Strait.
An announcement from the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said beginning Tuesday night a series of exercises would be held on the sea and in the air surrounding Taiwan.
"This action is a solemn deterrent against the recent major escalation of the negative actions of the United States on the Taiwan issue, and a serious warning to the 'Taiwan independence' forces seeking 'independence,'" Col. Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will deliver remarks as part of a conversation with members of Taiwan's parliament on Wednesday, but will not give a formal speech to the full house, a lawmaker told CNN.
Representatives from different parties will attend the meeting. However, due to parliament being in summer recess, not all members will be in attendance, the MP told CNN.
Pelosi will be greeted by Tsai Chi-chang, deputy speaker of the legislature, after speaker You Si-kun tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
After visiting parliament, Pelosi will head to the presidential office for a meeting with President Tsai Ing-Wen, according to a senior Taiwanese official.