Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates: America's solidarity with Taipei crucial more than ever, says Nancy Pelosi

11:13 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

China to punish outfits promoting Taiwan independence

Furious over the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's high-profile visit to Taipei, the first by a top American official in 25 years, China on Wednesday announced punitive measures on outfits seeking "Taiwan independence, banned imports of some Taiwanese food products and suspended the export of natural sand.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a Chinese official body which looks after Taiwan affairs, announced the punitive measures on organisations related to die-hard elements seeking "Taiwan independence".

Under the guise of "democracy" and "cooperation and development", "Taiwan Foundation for Democracy" and "International Cooperation and Development Fund" have wantonly carried out "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in the international arena.

PTI

10:58 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

US, Indonesia hold joint military drills amid China concerns

The United States and Indonesian militaries began annual joint combat exercises Wednesday on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, joined for the first time by participants from other partner nations, signaling stronger ties amid growing maritime activity by China in the Indo-Pacific region.

The planned two-week drills opened after China’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday night it would conduct a series of targeted military operations to “safeguard national sovereignty” in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to self-governed Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

The US-Indonesia military exercises coincided with Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan late Tuesday, as the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island. Beijing views visits by foreign government officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty.

AP

10:53 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Pelosi Taiwan visit set to dominate ASEAN meet

Southeast Asian foreign ministers will seek ways to help calm rising tensions over Taiwan at regional talks Wednesday, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived on the island, enraging Beijing.

Pelosi's dramatic late-night arrival in Taipei, defying threats of reprisals by China, looks set to dominate the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh, which had been due to focus on the bloody crisis in Myanmar.

Attention will focus instead on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his American counterpart Antony Blinken -- both flying into the Cambodian capital for regional security talks with ASEAN on Thursday and Friday.

ASEAN spokesman Kung Phoak, Cambodia's deputy foreign minister, said the meeting would seek to calm the waters.

AFP

10:42 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

China hits Taiwan with fresh trade curbs as Pelosi visits

China rolled out curbs Wednesday on the import of fruit and fish from Taiwan while halting shipments of sand to the island in the wake of a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China's Customs Administration said Wednesday it would suspend some citrus fruit imports from Taiwan over alleged "repeated" detection of excessive pesticide residue, and the import of fish owing to positive coronavirus tests on packages.

In a separate notice, the Commerce Ministry added it would also "suspend the export of natural sand to Taiwan" from Wednesday, without providing details.

AFP

10:26 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

China summons US envoy, warns America shall 'pay price' as Pelosi visits Taiwan

China has summoned the American envoy to Beijing to lodge a stern protest over Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's high-profile visit to Taipei, warning that Washington will "pay a price" for its "mistakes" and asked it to stop using the Taiwan issue to contain China in any form.

China's UN envoy calls Pelosi's potential visit to Taiwan region "provocative"pic.twitter.com/frfKXKQqUJ— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) August 2, 2022

10:08 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Taiwan Defence Ministry: Chinese drills around island meant to destroy regional stability

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that Chinese live-fire drills around the democratic island this week demonstrated Beijing’s intention to destroy regional peace and stability. Taiwan has enhanced alertness levels and will react timely and appropriately to the drills, a defence ministry spokesman told reporters via a voice message.

10:05 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

South Korea calls for calm over Pelosi Taiwan visit

South Korea on Wednesday called for dialogue to maintain regional peace and stability as tensions between the US and China soared over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

South Korea's presidential office called for regional peace and stability through dialogue ahead of Pelosi's expected arrival in Seoul late Wednesday.

"Our government's stance is to maintain close communication with relevant parties... on the basis that peace and stability in the region through dialogue and cooperation are important," an official from the presidential office told reporters.

AFP

10:03 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Japan expresses concern to China over Taiwan Strait Drills,says Government spokesman

Japan has expressed concern to China over its military drills in waters around Taiwan, a government spokesman said Wednesday as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the island.

“The maritime areas announced by the Chinese side as those to be used for military exercises… overlaps with Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Considering the live-fire training nature of this military activity, Japan has expressed concerns to the Chinese side,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

AFP

10:01 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

China customs suspends imports of citrus fruits, fish products from Taiwan

China is suspending imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan starting 3 August, China’s customs said on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, China’s commerce ministry said China will suspend export of natural sand to Taiwan from 3 August.

09:59 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Explained: Why US and China are at loggerheads over Taiwan

Though tensions between Washington and Beijing have recently escalated over Taipei, experts say there is little cause for concern that a full-blown war will break out

Read More

09:58 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

How China threats escalate after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan

After much ‘will she, won’t she’, United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday offering “unwavering commitment” to supporting its democracy.

The US House speaker, who is on an Asian tour, called the trip as part of a broader mission at a time when “the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”

Read More

09:54 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Chinese military drills breach Taiwan waters, endanger international order: Taipei

Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday that China's military exercises in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi breach the island's territorial waters.

"Some of the areas of China's drills breach into... (Taiwan's) territorial waters," defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said at a press conference. "This is an irrational move to challenge the international order."
 

AFP

09:50 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

US always standing with Taiwan, says Nancy Pelosi while speaking at the Taiwanese Parliament 

While speaking at the Taiwanese Parliament on Wednesday, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the US had made a promise 43 years ago to always stand with Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi, in her speech at the Taiwanese Parliament, praised President Tsai Ing-wen for her leadership of the country considering that she is one of the few female world leaders.

Taiwan | Today, the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy. America's determination to preserve democracy here in Taiwan and in the world remains iron-clad: US Speaker Pelosi during a meeting with President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen pic.twitter.com/j7L1kyjb9T— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2022

09:46 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Taiwan's Tsai thanks Pelosi for support, says island will not back down

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday thanked visiting US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her concrete actions to support Taiwan at this critical moment and said the island will not back down in the face of heightened military threats.

AFP

09:29 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

'Taiwan will not back down' in face of military threats: President Tsai

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday the island would "not back down" as a furious China geared up for military drills in retaliation for the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will... continue to hold the line of defence for democracy," Tsai said at an event with Pelosi in Taipei.
 

AFP

09:28 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

'We will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan': Pelosi

22:35 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

 US House Speaker to meet Taiwan's president tomorrow

 US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday after which she will fly out of the island in the afternoon local time

21:51 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Reports of China's Su-35 jets crossing Taiwan Strait are false, says Taipei

Taiwan's defense ministry said late on Tuesday that Chinese state media reports about China's Su-35 fighter jets crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait separating the island from China were false. The ministry said in a statement it had a full grasp of activities near Taiwan and would appropriately dispatch forces in reaction to 'enemy threats'.

21:37 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

China vows 'targeted military actions' in response to Pelosi's  visit

China's military vowed Tuesday to launch "targeted military actions" in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, as tensions flare between Washington and Beijing.

"The Chinese People's Liberation Army is on high alert and will launch a series of targeted military operations to counter this, resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely thwart external interference and 'Taiwan independence' separatist attempts," PLA spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement condemning the visit.

21:27 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

US solidarity with people of Taiwan more important than ever, says House Speaker

America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy, Pelosi said.

21:18 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Small protest erupts outside Taipei hotel where Pelosi will stay

Pelosi’s plane landed at Taipei’s Songshan airport at 22:44 pm (local time).

The US House Speaker and her delegation were greeted by local Taiwanese officials, as they alighted the plane. 

Pelosi is expected to travel by motorcade to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei where she will stay the night, reports BBC. A small demonstration is being held outside the hotel by a pro-China group with some holding up banners reading “go home warmonger”.

21:03 (IST)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan LIVE updates:

Our visit honours US’ commitment to supporting Taiwan democracy, says Nancy Pelosi

Minutes after landing in Taiwan, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted, “Our delegation’s visit to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy.”

“Our discussions with Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner & promote our shared interests, including advancing a free & open Indo-Pacific region.”