Pelosi Taiwan visit LIVE: 27 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan's air defence zone

The PLA will also conduct live-fire military drills from August 4 to 7 in six different areas that encircle the island of Taiwan from all directions, official media reports said. China has intensified the drills as Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, disregarding intense rhetoric from China against the visit to the island

The drills featured the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Joint Logistic Support Force in the sea and air space north, southwest and southeast of the Taiwan island, the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

Smarting from the successful visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, the Chinese military on Wednesday conducted a series of naval-air joint drills around Taiwan amid speculation that it may be attempting a blockade of the self-ruled island.

In response to Chinese aggression, Taiwan sent an air patrol to monitor the situation, and also deployed anti-aircraft missile systems. Pelosi's trip to Taiwan came to an end today as she departed from the self-ruled island after a short and gripping trip that upped the ante in the Taiwan Strait.

"27 PLA aircraft (J-11*6, J-16*5 and SU-30*16) entered the surrounding area of R.O.C. on August 3, 2022," Taiwan Defense Ministry tweeted. This incursion after 21 Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defence zone on Monday night.

The visit by Speaker Pelosi and other prominent members of Congress will enhance the close and cordial relations between Taiwan and the US and further deepen global cooperation between the two countries across a broad range of areas: Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The inclusion of Taiwan in the itinerary of Speaker Pelosi’s first Asian tour... fully demonstrates the high regard that Congress has for Taiwan & once again emphasizes the rock-solid US commitment to Taiwan: Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Taiwanese Ministry of FA "warmly welcomes US Congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi... it marks 1st visit by a US House Speaker in 25yrs... underscores high-level support for Taiwan-US relations from US Congress & wide scope of bilateral cooperation."

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the level of tension provoked by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan "should not be underestimated".

The world needs to exemplify the courage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, travelling despite so much hue & cry by Chinese media & leadership. We need to stand up & show solidarity with the wrongdoings of China: Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Dy Speaker of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

Why should China be so concerned with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan?... The visit shows the freedom of the democratic world. China needs to understand how a democratic world works: Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Dy Speaker, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

China has reacted & announced that from 4th Aug, there will be a series of military & naval exercises in Taiwan Strait - that is their way of saying what US did isn't correct. So, it's a difficult situation for both countries, the region & the world as a whole: Gautam Bambawale

Why should China be so concerned with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan?... The visit shows the freedom of the democratic world. China needs to understand how a democratic world works: Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Dy Speaker, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Australian university students that China must not help Russia in its war against his homeland and remain at least neutral.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has drawn bipartisan support at home and backing among the world's democracies. Meanwhile, China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory with no right to an independent identity, has rallied support among fellow authoritarian states. The divided opinions speak both to China's growing global influence and the backlash that has prompted among the world's liberal societies.

Lending its support to its all-weather ally China, Pakistan on Wednesday said US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan will have "serious implications" for regional peace and stability. Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday night disregarding China's stern warnings. She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.

Taiwan is negotiating with neighbouring Japan and the Philippines to find alternative aviation routes, the official Central News Agency (CNA) reports, after China announced drills that the trade-reliant island said amounted to a “blockade”.

North Korea has criticised Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, calling it an “impudent interference” by the US in China’s internal affairs.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov says Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was a deliberate attempt by the US to irritate China. “I see no other reason to create such an annoyance almost out of the blue, knowing very well what it means for the People’s Republic of China,” Lavrov said during a visit to Myanmar.

Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian nations will seek ways to help quell the diplomatic storm over Taiwan during an ongoing meeting in the Cambodian capital.

Taiwan’s president has criticised China’s military drills as “unnecessary” as she addressed reporters following her talks with Pelosi.

China's Foreign Ministry holds briefing amid rising tensions over Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit

The nature of her (US Speaker Nancy Pelosi) visit to the Taiwan region is not about democracy. This is an issue about China's sovereignty & territorial integrity: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson

Pelosi's trip has heightened US-China tensions more than visits by other members of Congress because of her high-level position as leader of the House of Representatives. She is the first speaker of the house to come to Taiwan in 25 years, since Newt Gingrich in 1997.

Nancy Pelosi visits White Terror Memorial Park in Taiwan

TV screens at multiple 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan were hacked to display the words "War Pelosi get out of Taiwan", according to local media reports.

At a joint news conference a short time ago Pelosi played down the controversy around her visit to Taiwan and said Beijing had not responded similarly when other US legislators visited earlier this year.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping has said that Beijing is keeping its eyes open in the wake of the visit by Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The Chinese president also said that his country continues to look at the world with eyes open not to miss a single provocation from the US reactionaries. Meanwhile Taiwan has announced increased military alert levels after the visit by Pelosi.

Won’t do anything to increase tension: US National Security Coordinator John Kirby on Pelosi's Taiwan visit

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.