ANKARA, Aug 3: United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi started her day in Taiwan’s capital by visiting the legislature amid continuous warnings by Chinese officials, reported Anadolu Agency.
According to information shared by local news outlet Focus Taiwan, Pelosi, who is leading a congressional delegation in a controversial tour to Asia, was received Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Yuan, Tsai Chi-chang.
The speaker of the legislature, You Si-kun, was not present due to his COVID-19 isolation.
Pelosi is expected to meet with representatives of the four political parties in Taiwan during her visit.
In a Twitter post, Pelosi said it is her “great and humble privilege to accept on behalf of the Congress the Order of the Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon: a symbol of America’s strong and enduring friendship with Taiwan.”
Pelosi, according to media reports, also spoke to the Taiwanese parliament about the importance of cooperation between Taiwan and the US in the chip industry.
Earlier, the Biden administration strongly defended Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan amid China’s ongoing fiery response, saying the trip is consistent with longstanding US policy and is “no reason” for Beijing to further escalate tensions.
In protest of the visit, China has summoned the US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns.
China, meanwhile, announced that it will halt natural sand exports to Taiwan from Wednesday in addition to several other restrictions such as the suspension of imports of certain food products.
Pelosi, the first speaker of the US House of Representatives to visit Taiwan in 25 years, later met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen and other lawmakers.
In 1997, Republican Newt Gingrich was the last House speaker to visit the self-ruled island, which has maintained its independence since 1949.
Soon after Pelosi landed in Taiwan, the Chinese military announced that it will hold military drills around the island, home to over 24 million people. -TVS
