Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan amid military action and warnings from China.

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NEW Fox News articles can now be heard on audio! After weeks of international anticipation and warnings of punishment from the Chinese Communist Party, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, has arrived to the island of Taiwan.

Despite many threats to her safety, Pelosi has finally landed in Taiwan as part of a lengthy trip of several partner countries in Asia.
Around 10:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, her aircraft landed in Taiwan.

Pelosi issued a statement shortly after landing, saying, “Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan and it in no way undermines long-standing United States policy, directed by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.” The US continues to be against unilateral attempts to alter the status quo.

A U.S. military aircraft with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on board prepares to land at Sungshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 2, 2022.

On August 2, 2022, a U.S. military aircraft carrying US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gets ready to land at Taipei, Taiwan’s Sungshan Airport. SAM YEH/AFP, courtesy of Getty Images

Since Newt Gingrich visited in 1997, Pelosi is the first House speaker to visit Taiwan, and the Taiwanese leadership was excited to have her. Such high-level diplomatic missions may help Taiwan gain acceptance abroad.

In recent weeks, China has issued strong warnings against such a visit, including threats made by politicians and TV celebrities. The American military, according to President Biden, “thinks it’s not a smart idea right now,” he said a few weeks ago.

This handout photo taken and released by Malaysias Department of Information, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, tours the parliament house in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, pictured in the middle of this handout photo obtained and made public by Malaysia’s Department of Information, explores the parliament building in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (AP) via Malaysia’s Department of Information

President Biden received a phone call on Thursday from Chinese President Xi Jinping warning him not to “play with fire” in regards to Taiwan.

“Whoever plays with fire will burn to death by it. Hopes are raised that the US will see this clearly “Chinese media reported on the Biden-Xi call.

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam, the destroyer USS Higgins, and the Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan are all now engaged in operations in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan.

The spokesperson made it clear that these are routine and typical deployments and that the US 7th Fleet is operating in these areas as usual.
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, is also nearby, according to the spokeswoman.

The comparatively thin stretch of water that separates the island of Taiwan from the Chinese mainland is known as the Taiwan Strait, and the People’s Republic of China has long claimed sovereignty over it. Taiwan’s air defense zone has regularly been tested by numerous flights into the area by the Chinese military.

Supporters hold a banner outside the hotel where U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is supposed to be staying in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Aug 2, 2022.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, outside the hotel where U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to stay in Taipei, Taiwan, supporters are holding a banner. Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo

Pro-China demonstrators protest outside the Grand Hyatt hotel ahead of the arrival of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei, Taiwan, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

Pro-China protesters demonstrate in front of the Grand Hyatt hotel on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taipei, Taiwan. (I-Hwa Cheng/Getty Images for Bloomberg) )

The United States maintains a One China Policy, which acknowledges the People’s Republic of China as the rightful successor state, and has no formal connections with Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China.

However, as China tries to cut off the island from international organizations, America has been increasing its engagement with it.

A U.S. military aircraft with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on board prepares to land at Sungshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 2, 2022.

On August 2, 2022, a U.S. military aircraft carrying US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gets ready to land at Taipei, Taiwan’s Sungshan Airport. SAM YEH/AFP, courtesy of Getty Images

Following their departure from a port in Singapore on Tuesday, the USS Ronald Reagan and a strike group are now stationed close to Taiwan. The story was confirmed by a Navy spokeswoman, who added that the trip was preplanned.

Democratic Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York, Mark Takano of California, Suzan DelBene of Washington, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, and Andy Kim of New Jersey are among the members of Pelosi’s delegation.

Fox News Digital journalist Timothy Nerozzi works there. You may email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com and follow him on Twitter at @timothynerozzi.

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