Explainer: Why Is Nancy Pelosi's Visit A Threat To China?

President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan promised on Wednesday to remain steadfast in the face of military threats from China made in reprisal for Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the US House of Representatives visit to the democratically-governed island, according to the BBC. China said that the People's Liberation Army would conduct military manoeuvres using live gunfire at various locations in Taiwan shortly after Pelosi arrived in Taipei late on Tuesday.

Despite several threats from Beijing, which claims the island as its own, Pelosi is the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China views official trips as endorsing pro-independence movements and supporting the notion that Taiwan is a sovereign state. Since the 1970s, the US has upheld a "One China" policy in which it recognises Taiwan as a part of China.

Nancy Pelosi Visits Taiwan

However, it also maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan, a tactic known as strategic ambiguity or purposeful ambiguity. Taiwan is regularly threatened by Beijing, which regards the island as a part of China and has never disclaimed the right to use force to annex the territory.

China promptly denounced Pelosi's visit, warning that it significantly jeopardised the stability and tranquilly of the Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry. In a statement, it claimed that the visit "seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and has a negative impact on the political underpinning of China-U.S. relations.

Before Pelosi arrived, Chinese warplanes flew over the line dividing the Taiwan Strait. In response to her visit, the Chinese military has been placed on high alert and will launch targeted military operations, according to the defence ministry.

Beginning on Tuesday night, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command will conduct combined air and sea manoeuvres close to Taiwan, according to reports. It will also perform a test launch of a conventional missile in the water to the east of Taiwan. Former US deputy assistant defence secretary Heino Klinck told Al Jazeera that Beijing would likely conduct operations to make clear to Taiwan and its allies that it is adamantly opposed to any kind of independence or autonomy for Taiwan.

Senior research fellow on China at the Chatham House think tank in London, Yu Jie, predicted that the Chinese response would most likely include economic sanctions against Taiwanese agricultural and manufacturing exports as well as a military standoff with the US Navy. Pelosi conveyed that the stop to Taiwan “in no way contradicts” the one-China policy. “By travelling to Taiwan, we honour our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan – and all democracies – must be respected,” Pelosi wrote.

The trip is contentious because it could lead to a serious conflict between China and the US. China has warned the US that Pelosi's visit would result in "severe consequences" if it went forward. Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, met Pelosi on Wednesday morning and they shared lunch. Pelosi is the first US House Speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997, along with six other US politicians.

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Pelosi emphasised the importance of the trip by drawing parallels between Taiwan and Ukraine, stating that "the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy" and writing that it is crucial for the United States and its allies to be clear that US never submits to autocrats as 'Russia waged its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine, killing thousands of innocent people, including children.'