TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — After a trip that drew China’s wrath, a defiant Nancy Pelosi concluded her visit to Taiwan on Wednesday with a pledge that the American commitment to democracy on the self-governing island and elsewhere "remains ironclad."Pelosi received a euphoric welcome as the first U.S. House speaker to visit in more than 25 years, and China swiftly responded by announcing multiple military exercises nearby.
The speaker’s departure for South Korea came just a day before China was scheduled to launch its largest maneuvers aimed at Taiwan in more than a quarter of a century.
Before leaving, a calm but resolute Pelosi repeated previous remarks about the world facing "a choice between democracy and autocracy."
"America’s determination to preserve democracy, here in Taiwan and around the world, remains ironclad," she said in a short speech during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
| Courtesy of Skidmark: |
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news]
- 27 Chinese fighter jets, including 16 Russian-made Su-30s, have flown into Taiwan's air defence zone today
- Comes amid huge air-and-sea war games that Beijing has declared in response to Pelosi visiting the island
- Taiwan's generals have defied Beijing's threats, saying they will 'not shy away from a fight' with China
- Expert told MailOnline that Xi's fury comes ahead of autumn's Party Congress where he will establish autocracy, with Taiwan 'reunification' his hoped-for legacy
| Update: |
PLA has launched multiple DF ballistic #missiles at our NE and SW waters since 13:56. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation with various means, while our defense systems have been activated. We condemn such irrational action that has jeopardized regional peace. pic.twitter.com/9JAFVBJIUO
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 4, 2022
| Related: US, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore launch huge joint military drills with 5,000 soldiers on Sumatra amid rising maritime threat from China during Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan |