China criticizes Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan as being "very hazardous.".

Beijing accuses a US congressman of "playing with fire" by visiting Taiwan at a time when US-China relations are at an all-time high.

On Wednesday, Nancy Pelosi, who is visiting Taiwan, will have a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen [Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via EPA]

China has denounced as "very hazardous" Nancy Pelosi's travel to Taiwan, saying that it poses a threat to regional stability.

Pelosi landed in Taiwan late on Tuesday as part of a tour she claimed showed American support for the autonomous island that China claims as its own.

Washington is required by US law to give Taiwan the ability to defend itself even if it does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state.

Minutes after arriving on the island, the US Congresswoman gave an editorial in the Washington Post an explanation of why she was visiting Taiwan.

She stated in the opinion article, "We cannot sit idly by while the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party) continues to endanger Taiwan - and democracy itself.

Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, touched landed at Songshan Airport in the heart of Taipei after flying in from Malaysia to start a trip that might further deteriorate relations between the US and China.

Joseph Wu, the foreign minister of Taiwan, and Sandra Oudkirk, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, welcomed her delegation.

Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan

To play with fire

China promptly denounced Pelosi's visit, warning that it significantly jeopardized the stability and tranquility of the Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry.

In a statement, it claimed that the visit "seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and "has a negative impact on the political underpinning of China-U.S. ties."

These actions are quite risky—like playing with fire. The warning said, "Those who dabble with fire shall perish by it.

Before Pelosi arrived, Chinese jets flew over the line dividing the Taiwan Strait.

According to the defence ministry, the Chinese military has been placed on high alert and would conduct "targeted military activities" in reaction to her visit.

Beginning on Tuesday night, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command will conduct combined air and sea maneuvers close to Taiwan.

It will also perform a test launch of a conventional missile in the water to the east of Taiwan.

Former US deputy assistant defense secretary Heino Klinck told Al Jazeera that Beijing will likely conduct operations to make clear to Taiwan and its allies that it is adamantly opposed to any kind of independence or autonomy for Taiwan.

As a result of how they have "basically painted themselves into such a public corner on Taiwan," Chinese officials "will have to do something in the immediate term," the author claimed.

China criticizes Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan as being "very hazardous."

Senior research fellow on China at the Chatham House think tank in London, Yu Jie, said that the Chinese reaction would most likely include economic penalties against Taiwanese agricultural and manufacturing exports as well as a military standoff with the US Navy.

China would take care to avoid getting sucked into a battle that would do enormous damage on all fronts, she added, despite a chorus of patriotic rhetoric.

"Beijing cannot afford to be seen as trying to modify the 1979 agreement it made with the US on its own.

If that occurs, the US political elite will be compelled to unanimously decide to amend the "One China Policy" in writing.

The last thing President Xi wants is a pointless conflict with a Session speaker who only has a little time left in office before the 20th Party congress.

Encouraging Democracy

Pelosi is traveling around Asia, and stops in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan are on the itinerary.

Though unannounced, her visit to Taiwan was eagerly awaited.

The travel to Taiwan "in no way violates" the one-China policy, according to Pelosi.

Pelosi added, "By visiting Taiwan, we uphold our commitment to democracy: emphasizing that the liberties of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be protected.

The trip is contentious because there is a chance that it might lead to a serious conflict between China and the US.

If Pelosi went through with her visit, China has threatened the US with "severe repercussions.

" Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, will meet Pelosi on Wednesday morning, and the two ladies will share a meal together, according to the presidential office.

Pelosi, with six other people

The trip is contentious because it might lead to a serious conflict between China and the US.

China has warned the US that Pelosi's visit would result in "severe repercussions" if it went forward.

The president's office said that Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, will meet Pelosi on Wednesday morning and they will have lunch.

Pelosi is the first US House Speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997, along with six other US politicians.

tions between Taiwan and Ukraine, stating that "the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy" and writing that "it is essential that America and our allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats" as Russia conducts its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine and kills thousands of innocent people, including children.

Reporting from Washington, DC for Al Jazeera, Shihab Rattansi said Pelosi seemed to be portraying the visit as part of a larger initiative to support democracy all across the world.

He claimed that as soon as she came, a number of tweets, articles, and speeches were made portraying Pelosi as a freedom warrior fighting for democracy and opposing despotism.

As part of this global mission to traverse the world supporting democracy, she "compared her journey to Taiwan to her trip to Ukraine in April."