Pelosi lands in Taiwan; China to launch 'targeted' military operations

House speaker is highest ranking U.S. official to visit in 25 years

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, walks from her aircraft after landing in Taipei late Tuesday. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, left, greeted the American lawmaker. (Photo courtesy of Taiwan's Foreign Ministry)

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer, and CISSY ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

August 2, 2022 23:54 JST

Updated on August 3, 2022 03:15 JST

TAIPEI/HONG KONG -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other members of Congress landed in Taipei late on Tuesday for a much anticipated visit that prompted China's military to announce "targeted" military operations in the seas and airspace surrounding the island.

Pelosi is the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997. While a significant visit, several delegations of senior U.S. and European lawmakers have also made trips to Taipei in recent years.