US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, in a visit by the highest-ranking US official to the island since 1997, at a sensitive time for President Xi Jinping, who is preparing to run for a third term at the upcoming Communist Party Congress.

The plane of the US House Speaker arrived at Songshan Airport in Taiwan in the late hours of Monday night, according to Taiwan time, despite Chinese warnings.

On the evening of Tuesday, a US military plane carrying US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed at Songshan Airport in the Taiwanese capital Taipei.

Eight US fighter jets took off from Okinawa Island east of Taiwan, coinciding with the entry of the plane carrying Pelosi into Taiwanese airspace.

An Anadolu Agency correspondent indicated that Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu welcomed US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi upon her arrival at the airport.

In China’s first official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the end of the visit will not be "good," adding, "If Washington insists on following the wrong approach, it must be responsible for any serious consequences."

Earlier on Monday, US National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said that China is preparing to respond to a possible visit from US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

US Axios website stated that Kirby expected China to conduct "military provocations," such as launching missiles at the Taiwan Strait or breaching Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone in response to Pelosi’s visit.

Beijing’s official statement on the call between Xi and President Biden on Thursday, July 28, said that Xi warned the US president against "playing with fire" on Taiwan.

Kirby said Biden told Xi in their call that Congress is independent from the White House, and Pelosi "makes her own decisions," although Kirby confirmed she is traveling on a military plane, as is customary on such trips, adding that Pelosi has "the right to visit Taiwan," and promised to ensure her safety throughout her trip.

Kirby also confirmed that Pelosi’s visit will not change the status quo or indicate any change in US policy, while "Beijing's actions may have unintended consequences, only increasing tensions."

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said that "if the possible visit occurs, it will represent a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, severely undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, trample the One-China principle, and undermine US-China relations. It will lead to extremely serious consequences."

Zhao added that the Chinese military "will not stand idly by" and will take "strong and decisive actions."

It is noteworthy that China has pledged to take control of the self-governing island by force if necessary, and reacts strongly to any initiatives that treat Taiwan as an independent country.

In a related context, four US warships, including an aircraft carrier, were stationed in the waters east of Taiwan in "routine" deployments.

A US Navy official confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, that the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan crossed the South China Sea and is currently in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan, the Philippines, and southern Japan.

The aircraft carrier, based in Japan, operates with the guided missile ship Antietam and the destroyer Higgins, and the official, who requested anonymity, said, "While capable of handling any eventuality, these are routine deployments."

Pelosi said that her visit to Taiwan does not conflict with the US policy toward China.

Explaining that the US cannot stand idly by while China "threatens Taiwan and democracy in general."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to the visit by saying that if Washington insists on following the wrong approach, it must be responsible for any serious consequences.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense also said that the Chinese military is on high alert following Pelosi’s visit.

Reuters reported that the Chinese Ministry of Defense said Chinese forces are on standby to start military operations to counter Nancy Pelosi’s visit.

It announced the launch of military drills in six areas around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday.