Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, and China warns America shall ‘pay the price’ as Pelosi visits Taipei.

After weeks of uncertainty, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally flew to Taiwan via air force passenger jet on Tuesday, becoming the highest-ranking American official in the 25-year history to visit the self-ruled island.

A few hours after Nancy Pelosi had spoken at the Taiwanese Parliament, China on Wednesday called the American envoy in Beijing to lodge a severe protest. China further warned Washington would pay the price and asked it to stop using the Taiwan matter to contain China in any form.

 China announced military schemes in retaliation, to which Taiwan’s military replied that it has the ability to protect national security. Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan worsened the current situation of tension between

China and Taiwan because China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and it views visits by foreign government officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Pelosi stated in a press meeting in Taipei that the US supports the status quo but does not want anything to occur to Taiwan by force. “We want Taiwan to always have freedom with security; we are not backing away from that,” she said. 

China on Wednesday stopped exports of natural sand to Taiwan and suspended imports of fruit and fish products from the self-governed island as the US House of Representatives Speaker visited the island in spite of the trip being frequently condemned by Bejing. This trip has now created a new tension between China and the United States.