US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: Politico

A statement issued by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Members of a Congressional Delegation said this visit is the first official visit by a Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 25 years. “Our Congressional delegation’s visit honors America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy,” according to the statement. “Our discussions with Taiwan leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, which said  “This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” “China and the United States are two major countries. The right way for them to deal with each other lies only in mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, no-confrontation and win-win cooperation,” said the statement.  

The National People's Congress of China (National Assembly), the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference  (Front) also issued a statement of protest, calling the visit "of a very bad character and with very serious consequences."

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense strongly condemned Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, saying that the People's Liberation Army of China is on high alert and resolutely safeguards the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, resolutely smashing foreign interference and secessionist plots of demanding “Taiwan independence.”