Taiwan is seen to face pressure from China with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expected to arrive on the island late Tuesday. It is understood that his visit was not supported by the White House and this is the first time a senior US official has done so in decades.
Pelosi is the third-highest-ranking official in the US government and a longtime critic of Beijing. China, on the other hand, has repeatedly warned against the visit and on Tuesday issued a warning that if the US does not follow through on its promises, the US will "pay the price".
On Tuesday China sent fighter jets up to the center line, the unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan, showing China really means what it says. Not only that, the shooting practice is also broadcast live.
Taiwan's defense ministry said it fully understands the military activities near the island and is determined to defend itself against any Chinese threats.
Pelosi began her tour of Asia on Sunday without mentioning Taiwan on her itinerary. He has so far visited Singapore and Malaysia, and is also scheduled to stop in South Korea and Japan.
However, there have been widespread reports that he will visit Taipei and hold meetings with Taiwanese leaders on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said Taiwan "welcomes" any foreign guests and "will make the most appropriate arrangements" for any visitors.
Pelosi's visit to Asia has caused tension for many parties, especially the White House. President Joe Biden last week said the US military believed Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was "not a good idea at this time".
Geopolitical developments at this point with the role of Russia-Ukraine have added to this even more complexity. China sees the visit to Taiwan as an agenda. This conflict has started to have an impact on the technology stock market especially.
