US politicians visit Taiwan after Nancy Pelosi trip drew China’s ire

Speaker of the House's trip led Beijing to conduct most provocative military drills in decades

People walk past a billboard welcoming US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei, Taiwan. AP

A US military aircraft carrying Ms Pelosi makes its descent at Songshan Airport in Taipei. AFP

Supporters outside Songshan Airport welcome Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg

Ms Pelosi is visiting Taiwan as part of a tour of Asia aimed at reassuring allies in the region. Getty Images

A Taipei 101 skyscraper message welcomes Ms Pelosi to Taiwan. EPA

Ms Pelosi is greeted by Joseph Wu, Taiwan's foreign minister, at Songshan Airport. EPA / Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ms Pelosi poses for a group photo with Mr Wu and other officials on the tarmac. EPA / Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ms Pelosi is the highest-ranking US official to visit the island in 25 years. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AP

Ms Pelosi poses with members of her delegation and Taiwanese officials. AP

Police officers stand outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg

Police officers await a convoy carrying Ms Pelosi outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg

Police officers await a convoy carrying Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg

Throngs of media wait outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg

The convoy carrying Ms Pelosi arrives at the Grand Hyatt. Bloomberg

People hope to take a photo of Ms Pelosi's arrival outside the hotel. Reuters

Supporters gathered outside the Grand Hyatt welcome Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg

Demonstrators show their support for Ms Pelosi's visit. Reuters

The Taipei 101 building lit up with a message reading 'TW hearts US'. Bloomberg

Demonstrators in Taipei show their support of the US as Ms Pelosi arrives. Reuters

Not everyone in Taipei is thrilled by Ms Pelosi's visit. AP

A US congressional delegation led by Ed Markey, a senator from the state of Massachusetts, landed in Taiwan on Sunday for a two-day visit, on a trip that risks keeping tensions with China high after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went earlier this month.

The delegation will meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu and local politicians, a foreign ministry statement said.

They will discuss bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other significant issues of mutual interest, the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy, said separately.

The delegation includes Representatives John Garamendi, Alan Lowenthal, Don Beyer and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.

Ms Pelosi’s stopover in Taiwan drew a strong response from China, which conducted its most provocative military drills in decades following her visit.

Beijing denounced the trip as a breach of the US pledge decades ago not to formally recognise the government of Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

While she was the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in a quarter of a century, visits by other members of Congress are common.

During her meeting with Taiwanese leaders, Ms Pelosi noted that several US senators, including the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Bob Menendez, had visited this year without prompting a firestorm of criticism from Beijing.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chinese President Xi Jinping told his American counterpart Joe Biden shortly before Ms Pelosi’s visit that her trip would bring unspecified consequences, but also said he has no intention of going to war with the US.