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Pelosi in the Taipei Parliament
Photo: ANN WANG / REUTERS
Nancy Pelosi is going through with her visiting program.
On Wednesday she visited the parliament in Taipei, after which she met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
At a joint press conference, the US leader said the US will "always stand by Taiwan's side."
The visit of the congress delegation to Taiwan shows "that we will not give up our commitments to Taiwan".
Referring indirectly to Beijing's communist leadership's threats against Taiwan, Pelosi said, "More than ever, American solidarity is crucial." That was the message of her congressional delegation's visit.
US support for Taiwan is bipartisan.
"Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy," Pelosi said, praising Taiwan as "one of the freest societies in the world."
Taiwan's president said Russia's invasion of Ukraine drew international attention to the conflict with China over Taiwan.
The situation in the Taiwan Strait has implications for security in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Taiwan will not back down," Tsai said, referring to the threat posed by China.
"We will do whatever is necessary to strengthen our self-defense capabilities."
In response, China's People's Liberation Army immediately launched maneuvers in six sea areas around Taiwan.
There should also be “extensive target practice” until Sunday.
A total of 21 Chinese fighter jets, including 10 J-16s, are said to have entered Taiwan's no-fly zone after Pelosi arrived on the self-governing island of Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Defense Ministry.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of the People's Republic, strictly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei and had vehemently warned the USA against Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.
The maneuvers are considered the greatest military muscle flexing since the missile crisis of 1995, when China fired missiles over Taiwan to intimidate it and the US dispatched two aircraft carrier groups.
The sea areas for the current exercises go far beyond the former restricted zones, reach close to Taiwan and appear to partially invade its sovereign territories.
Experts also expect that shipping routes could be affected.
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Because of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China summoned the US ambassador to Beijing.
According to Chinese state media, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Feng protested in the strongest possible terms at the meeting with Ambassador Nicholas Burns on Tuesday against the trip by the Speakers of the US House of Representatives.
"The move is outrageous and the consequences are extremely serious," Xie said, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
"China will not stand idly by." The US would have to "pay the price for its own mistakes," the Deputy Secretary of State said.
The Washington government must now "take practical measures to reverse the negative effects of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan."
In response, China partially suspended trade with the island.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that the export of sand to Taiwan has been suspended with immediate effect.
Imports of citrus fruit, frozen mackerel fillet and chilled fish from Taiwan will be banned from August 3, Chinese customs said.
It is not known how long the restrictions will apply.
China is Taiwan's largest trading partner.
jul/dpa/Reuters/afp