Chinese military exercises around Taiwan as the US president arrives

 Pelosi is the first US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years

TAIPEI CITY/WASHINGTON — US Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Taiwan amid strong warnings from China. During her visit to Asia, Pelosi landed at Songshan Airport in Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan, on Tuesday evening. The visit of the US top official and China's response have raised tensions between the two superpowers.

Pelosi, who arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday after visiting Singapore, landed in Taipei City at 10.45pm local time and was welcomed by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Woo and US Representative Sandra Oudkirk. After arriving in Taiwan, Pelosi said in a statement, "This visit is a tribute to and support of the United States for Taiwan's unwavering commitment to a vibrant democracy." Solidarity with Taiwan's 23 million people is important today and forever. The visit will focus on Indo-Pacific mutual security, economic partnership, and democratic governance said Pelosi's statement.

Pelosi is meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday morning. He is also scheduled to meet with a group of human rights activists in China.

Pelosi is the first US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. In 1997, then US Speaker Newt Gingrich visited Taiwan. Pelosi's office had not officially announced the visit to Taiwan before. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that the US is not in favor of escalating the conflict with China and said that Pelosi will decide on her own visit to Taiwan. "Pelosi is the Speaker of the US Parliament, the government does not make her visit schedule," US officials say.

China, which claims Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, has been making a series of aggressive statements about the invitation of US officials there. Before Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded that the US politician was playing with fire on the Taiwan issue and that the outcome would not be pleasant. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also made a similar statement. If Pelosi visits Taiwan, China will take strong measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. But those who try to play with fire will burn to ashes. We are fully prepared to respond to any eventuality. The PLA (Chinese Army) is not going to be a silent spectator.

After Pelosi left Taiwan, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement and responded that "Pelosi's visit is a serious violation of the one-China principle and it will have a deep impact on the political foundation of China-US relations." In the statement, China warned the US "not to play the Taiwan card and not to interfere in China's internal affairs and not to proceed on a wrong and dangerous path." China has been practicing air and sea warfare in the Taiwanese border area since Monday.

Strategic analysts estimate that the deployed Chinese army will increase military pressure on Taiwan. The US is also expected to increase its activity in the Asia-Pacific region. Because of this, the tension in the area will become more complicated. Experts say that if this war of words turns into a real conflict, a new crisis will arise in Taiwan and it could destroy global markets and supply chains. Taiwan has said that it is capable and committed to defending its territory. Taiwan is capable of responding to Chinese threats. The Taiwanese military is committed, capable and confident in defending its land. We are making various preparations," the news agency AFP quoted the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense as saying.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been saying that Taiwan will be integrated into China at the appropriate time. "The historical responsibility of unifying the motherland must be fulfilled. And, it will definitely come to pass," President Xi said on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the end of the monarchy in China. President Xi has said he wants to peacefully reunify with Taiwan under 'One Country: Two Systems'. Taiwan, on the other hand, has been calling on Beijing to stop such actions, stating that Beijing's activities are "intrusion, harassment, and provocation".

In the 1940s, a civil war broke out between China and Taiwan. Mao Zedong's communist army and Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang army fought each other for state power after liberating the country from Japanese colonial rule. After fierce fighting, Chiang and his Kuomintang government officials escaped to Taiwan in 1949. For a long time, Taiwan was dominated by this group. Chiang's son, Chiang Ching Kuo, practiced democratization after local citizens protested the government as a dictatorship. Later, President Lee Teng Hui led the country towards a democratic political system by making constitutional changes. He is also called the "Father of Democracy" in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, which has its own separate constitution, leaders are elected through a democratic process. But China has been saying that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory and will leave it after unification at the right time. Many countries in the world and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations as two countries. But the US has made a law related to Taiwan's right to defend itself. Taiwan has about 300,000 active troops.