US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has left Taiwan after a one-day visit that has infuriated China.
During her short trip, Pelosi met President Tsai Ing-wen and members of Taiwan’s parliament, assuring them of continued US support for the self-ruled island.China, which claims Taiwan as its own, has announced “targeted military operations” and live-fire drills around the island in response.
Tsai has slammed the drills as “unnecessary”, while Japan has expressed concern saying the areas to be used for the exercises overlap with its exclusive economic zone.
China has suspended some trade with Taiwan in apparent retribution for a visit by the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-governing island.
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The curbs include the suspension of some fruits and fish imports from Taiwan, and exports of natural sand to the island.
China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $273 billion last year, accounting for 33% of the island’s total trade with the rest of the world, according to the Taiwanese government.