Who is Nancy Pelosi? Why China threatened US for consequences and what is Taiwan's role; Explained in pics
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and it views visits by foreign government officials as them recognising the island's sovereignty.
When US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew into Taiwan on an Air Force passenger jet, she became the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island. China announced military maneuvers in retaliation. The reason her visit ratcheted up tension between China and the United States: China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and it views visits by foreign government officials as them recognising the island's sovereignty.
(With agency inputs)
Pelosi meets Taiwan's president, China starts military exercises within minutes of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landing in Taiwan on Tuesday night. (Image: IANS)
Military police officers get into position for a drill in Taipei. Whereas, the Chinese aircraft conducted tactical moves of briefly "touching" the median line and circling back to the other side of the strait while Taiwanese aircraft were on standby nearby, the source said. Neither side`s aircraft normally cross the median line. (Image: Reuters)
Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi met Taiwan`s President Tsai Ing-wen despite sharp warnings from China against the visit. Shortly before Pelosi met with President Tsai, Taiwan`s cabinet announced that the island`s military had stepped up their alertness level. (Image: Reuters)
Taiwan`s defence ministry said 21 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone on Tuesday, and that China was attempting to threaten key ports and cities with drills around the island. Taiwan`s armed forces have "reinforced" their alertness level, it added. (Image: Reuters)
The last U.S. house speaker to go to Taiwan was Newt Gingrich, in 1997. But Pelosi`s visit comes amid sharply deteriorating Sino-U.S. relations, and China has emerged as a far more powerful economic, military and geopolitical force during the past quarter century. (Image: IANS)
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said after Pelosi`s arrival that the United States "is not going to be intimidated" by China`s threats or bellicose rhetoric and that there is no reason her visit should precipitate a crisis or conflict. (Image: Reuters)