China has expressed its complete rejection of the US House Speaker's visit to Taiwan, describing it as "playing with fire", while the Chinese military command of the eastern region said that it will conduct specific military operations near Taiwan.
China on Tuesday denounced "extremely dangerous" US behavior in Taiwan, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived on the island in a visit that stoked tension between the two giant powers.
"The United States has been constantly distorting, concealing and hollowing out the one-China principle," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement after Pelosi's plane landed in Taiwan, adding, "These steps, like playing with fire, are very dangerous, and those who play with fire will perish with it."
Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening, after days of rising tension between China and the United States over her likely visit to Taipei.
Direct pictures showed a US military plane arriving at Taipei's Songshan Airport, while it was received by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the US official's visit seriously affects the political foundations of China-US relations. She added that she had lodged a strong protest with the United States.
In turn, China vowed to conduct "targeted military operations" in response to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
The Chinese military command of the eastern region said it would carry out direct fire in the waters off the east coast of the island.
She pointed out that "these military operations target the recent US measures regarding the unity of China," stressing that "it will carry out long-range direct fire."
The Chinese Military Command of the Eastern Region indicated that it will conduct a joint air exercise in the sea and air in the north, southwest and southeast of the island of Taiwan.
The US official was received by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu at Taipei's Songshan Capital Airport.
This is the first visit by an official in this position to Taiwan in 25 years.
Pelosi and her entourage of US lawmakers and officials will stay at two hotels they have been booked.