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After becoming the first US speaker to visit Taiwan in more than 25 years, Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday, saying she and other members of Congress in her delegation showed they will not abandon their commitment to the self-governing island.
Key points:
- Nancy Pelosi says the US will help 'preserve democracy in Taiwan'
- China's response to Ms Pelosi's visit has involved military and economic action
- China sent 27 aircraft into the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday with 22 crossing the median line
Ms Pelosi's visit courted Beijing's wrath and set off more than a week of debate over whether it was a good idea, after news of her trip was was leaked.
But in Taipei, she remained calm but defiant giving a speech during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
"Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy," she said.
"America's determination to preserve democracy, here in Taiwan and around the world, remains ironclad."
China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any engagement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.
It has announced multiple military exercises around the island, entering Taiwanese waters in some parts.
'Sealing off Taiwan by air and sea'
On Wednesday it took very little time for China to act on its threats as 27 aircraft buzzed the Taiwan Strait, with 22 crossing the median line of the Strait.
In response Taiwan's military said it scrambled jets to warn off the Chinese aircraft.
Earlier, at a briefing by the National Defence Ministry, Captain Jian-chang Yu said Taiwan decried China's planned actions.
"Such an act equals to sealing off Taiwan by air and sea," he said.
"Such an act covers our country's territory and territorial waters, and severely violates our country's territorial sovereignty,"
The Chinese military exercises, including live fire, are expected to start on Thursday and be the largest aimed at Taiwan since 1995.
In that year, China fired missiles in a large-scale exercise to show its displeasure at a then-Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the US.
Taiwanese President Tsai responded firmly to Beijing's military intimidation this week.
"Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down," Tsai said.
"We will firmly uphold our nation's sovereignty and continue to hold the line of defence for democracy."
Not just a military response
China's response to Ms Pelosi's visit has been loud and on multiple fronts diplomatic, economic and military.
On Wednesday, China banned some imports from Taiwan, including citrus fruit and fish.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV published images and video of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) executing drills.
On Wednesday morning, Ms Pelosi addressed Beijing's threats but stopped short of saying the US would offer military support to Taiwan.
"[I hope] that [China] understands they will not stand in the way of people coming to Taiwan as a show of friendship and of support," she said.
"[Congress is] committed to the security of Taiwan, in order to have Taiwan be able to most effectively defend themselves," she said.
Russia angered by 'provocative' visit
China's ally Russia, also weighed in on Ms Pelosi's visit with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemning it.
"It's a clear provocation. It's not a deliberate line to support ephemeral freedom and democracy," he said.
"It's a clear provocation. It's necessary to call such steps as they are.
"We are convinced that any foreign policy goals shouldn't and can't be achieved with such provocative steps."
Mr Peskov's comments reflected close ties between Moscow and Beijing.
Russia and China have held a series of joint war games in recent years, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
Last year, Russian troops deployed to Chinese territory for joint manoeuvres.
AP