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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, defying Beijing’s warnings
- Visit ‘honours America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant democracy’, says Pelosi, America’s third-ranking official
- Beijing responds by announcing that live ammunition military drills will take place around the island from Thursday until Sunday
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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Taiwan despite repeated warnings from Beijing against the visit and the risk of triggering a military conflict.
Leading a Democratic congressional delegation, Pelosi – an outspoken critic of Beijing and staunch supporter of Taiwan – arrived in Taipei unannounced, in contrast to her high-profile visits to other destinations in her trip through Asia.
Pelosi and her group were expected to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials on Wednesday.
Beijing denounced the trip immediately after Pelosi’s plane landed, claiming it violated the one-China policy Washington had committed to uphold and that US President Joe Biden had “the responsibility to stop such visit”.
“The United States, for its part, has been attempting to use Taiwan to contain China. It constantly distorts, obscures and hollows out the one-China principle, steps up its official exchanges with Taiwan, and emboldens ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said.
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“These moves, like playing with fire, are extremely dangerous. Those who play with fire will perish by it,” the ministry added.
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