Just before the plane carrying 82-year-old Pelosi and a group of other Democrats landed at Songshan Airport in Taipei, several planes from the Chinese Air Force flew through the Taiwan Strait.

“Certain American politicians are playing with fire when it comes to the Taiwan issue,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in comments on Tuesday night’s visit.

Unchanged policy

Pelosi was met at the airport by a delegation led by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

In an announcement, he stressed that the visit did not imply a change in the direction of US policy towards China and Taiwan.

The visit was “in no way against the old US policy”, the statement said.

Does not recognize

In 1979, the US recognized Taiwan as part of “one China”, represented by the government in Beijing. So does Norway and most countries in the world, as well as the United Nations.

However, American presidents have stressed for years that the United States would defend Taiwan militarily if troops from mainland China attacked.

Distort and erode

– The US continues to distort, obscure and undermine the “one China” principle, said a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry late Tuesday.

– This action is like playing with fire and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will be devoured by it, further comments on Pelosi’s visit.

Military training alert

China’s defense forces have warned of military drills in six areas in the waters around Taiwan in the coming days.

– The People’s Liberation Army is on full alert and will carry out a series of targeted military operations and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and prevent external interference and separatist efforts in Taiwan, China’s defense spokesman Wu Qian said in comments on the US senator’s remarks. . visit.

On Tuesday, 21 aircraft from the Chinese Air Force reportedly flew into what Taiwan defines as its aircraft identification zone, according to the Ministry of Defense in Taipei.

According to an announcement, the planes were inside the Southwest Aircraft Identification Zone (Adiz). Adiz is much larger than Taiwan’s territorial airspace and also includes areas that are part of China’s military aircraft identification zone, including areas over mainland China.

rowdy face

Pelosi is the most senior US politician to visit the island since 1997.

Previously, China had announced that “they will not sit idly by” if Pelosi visits Taiwan. As the Democratic leader in the House, he is considered by China to be Vice President Joe Biden.

China’s foreign minister believes that Washington’s behavior “undermines America’s national credibility”.

– It definitely won’t have a good result. The look on America’s rowdy face once again shows that it is the world’s greatest peace saboteur, Wang said hours before Pelosi’s arrival.

Welcome

According to Taiwanese media, Pelosi will spend the night on the island. Barricades were erected outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, where the US leader was expected to check-in. Buildings in the capital are illuminated with sails welcoming Pelosi.

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and three other US warships were in waters east of Taiwan on Tuesday, the news agency wrote Reuters. The US Navy said they were on a routine mission.