In a rare move amid the escalating hostilities between Taiwan and China, on Tuesday, Taipei fired warning shots at a Chinese drone that had buzzed into its territory.&nbsp;

This comes as the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, recently declared that she had instructed the military to take "strong countermeasures" against what she called Chinese provocations.

Tsai criticised China earlier on Tuesday when touring the military forces on the Penghu islands for its use of drones and other forms of "grey zone" warfare.

Watch:&nbsp;Chinese ships near Kinmen Island raise concerns

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She told naval officers, "I want to tell everyone that the more the enemy provokes, the more calm we must be."

"We will not provoke disputes, and we will exercise self-restraint, but it does not mean that we will not counter," she added.

After the shots were fired, the drone returned to China, according to a military spokesman.&nbsp;The incident happened near the Kinmen islands.&nbsp;

Reuters reports that as part of military manoeuvres by Beijing, Chinese drones frequently fly dangerously close to small island groupings Taiwan controls near the Chinese coast.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-escalating-tensions-with-china-taiwan-proposes-double-digit-increase-defence-budget-510010">Amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan proposes double-digit increase in defence budget</a>

The drone had neared Erdan islet, according to Chang Jung-shun, a spokesman for the Kinmen Defense Command, and live bullets were shot at it shortly before 6 o'clock (1000 GMT).&nbsp;

Despite being well-equipped, Taiwan's military is outclassed by China. Tsai has been in charge of a modernization programme and has prioritised raising defence spending.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-us-warships-transit-through-taiwan-strait-for-first-time-since-pelosis-visit-510794">Two US warships transit through Taiwan Strait for the first time since Pelosi's visit</a>

When asked earlier on Tuesday about Chinese drone activity, Taiwan's defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, said he was unable to comment specifically on how his country would respond to the intrusions, but that the military would act in accordance with the principle of "self defence."

In a veiled warning to China, he said, "Don't make a fuss then when I set off some firecrackers to scare away some sparrows."

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a rare move amid the escalating hostilities between Taiwan and China, on Tuesday, Taipei fired warning shots at a Chinese drone that had buzzed into its territory.

In a rare move amid the escalating hostilities between Taiwan and China, on Tuesday, Taipei fired warning shots at a Chinese drone that had buzzed into its territory. This comes as the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, recently declared that she had instructed the military to take "strong countermeasures" against what she called Chinese provocations. Tsai criticised China earlier on Tuesday when touring the military forces on the Penghu islands for its use of drones and other forms of "grey zone" warfare. Watch: Chinese ships near Kinmen Island raise concerns She told naval officers, "I want to tell everyone that the more the enemy provokes, the more calm we must be." "We will not provoke disputes, and we will exercise self-restraint, but it does not mean that we will not counter," she added. After the shots were fired, the drone returned to China, according to a military spokesman. The incident happened near the Kinmen islands. Reuters reports that as part of military manoeuvres by Beijing, Chinese drones frequently fly dangerously close to small island groupings Taiwan controls near the Chinese coast. Also read | Amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan proposes double-digit increase in defence budget The drone had neared Erdan islet, according to Chang Jung-shun, a spokesman for the Kinmen Defense Command, and live bullets were shot at it shortly before 6 o'clock (1000 GMT). Despite being well-equipped, Taiwan's military is outclassed by China. Tsai has been in charge of a modernization programme and has prioritised raising defence spending. Also read | Two US warships transit through Taiwan Strait for the first time since Pelosi's visit When asked earlier on Tuesday about Chinese drone activity, Taiwan's defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, said he was unable to comment specifically on how his country would respond to the intrusions, but that the military would act in accordance with the principle of "self defence." In a veiled warning to China, he said, "Don't make a fuss then when I set off some firecrackers to scare away some sparrows." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid rising tensions Taiwan fires at Chinese drone

White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan. However, the US President, in response, said that he ‘could not oblige’ and that it was the speaker’s own choice to decide on her overseas visits as the US Congress is an independent government branch, The Washington Post reported.

Additionally, Biden also warned his counterpart against using provocative and coercive tactics during Pelosi’s visit. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "Members of Congress have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so. Speaker Pelosi had every right to go, and her visit is consistent with our long-standing One-China policy," the newspaper quoted. However, since 1997, no US House Speaker had&nbsp;visited Taiwan until Pelosi at the beginning of August this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-slams-us-over-pelosis-taiwan-visit-accuses-it-of-trying-to-prolong-the-ukraine-war-507390">Putin slams US over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, accuses it of trying to prolong the Ukraine war</a>

China denounced Pelosi’s visit and began its extensive military drills close to the island. Beijing also opposes official interactions between Taiwan and any other country because the island is considered an integral part of its territory. It further stated that the "One China" principle is a political pillar of China-US relations and that breaking these commitments can harm bilateral cooperation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sanctions-seven-taiwanese-officials-for-supporting-the-islands-independence-507265">China sanctions seven Taiwanese officials for supporting the island's independence</a>

In conversation with CNN, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said, "We do not believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over the visit -- the peaceful visit -- of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan... it was a manufactured crisis by the government in Beijing. It was an overreaction," ANI reported.

The ambassador said, "Incumbent upon the government here in Beijing to convince the rest of the world that it will act peacefully in the future." He added, "I think there's a lot of concern around the world that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that's not in anyone's interest," ANI reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan.

White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan. However, the US President, in response, said that he ‘could not oblige’ and that it was the speaker’s own choice to decide on her overseas visits as the US Congress is an independent government branch, The Washington Post reported. Additionally, Biden also warned his counterpart against using provocative and coercive tactics during Pelosi’s visit. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "Members of Congress have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so. Speaker Pelosi had every right to go, and her visit is consistent with our long-standing One-China policy," the newspaper quoted. However, since 1997, no US House Speaker had visited Taiwan until Pelosi at the beginning of August this year. Also read | Putin slams US over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, accuses it of trying to prolong the Ukraine war China denounced Pelosi’s visit and began its extensive military drills close to the island. Beijing also opposes official interactions between Taiwan and any other country because the island is considered an integral part of its territory. It further stated that the "One China" principle is a political pillar of China-US relations and that breaking these commitments can harm bilateral cooperation. Also read | China sanctions seven Taiwanese officials for supporting the island's independence In conversation with CNN, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said, "We do not believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over the visit -- the peaceful visit -- of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan... it was a manufactured crisis by the government in Beijing. It was an overreaction," ANI reported. The ambassador said, "Incumbent upon the government here in Beijing to convince the rest of the world that it will act peacefully in the future." He added, "I think there's a lot of concern around the world that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that's not in anyone's interest," ANI reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

In phone call, Chinese President Xi Jinping asked US President Joe Biden to stop Pelosi's visit to Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, arrived in Taiwan amid an escalating crisis between the US and China. The Communist nation started conducting military drills close to the island nation. As tensions in the area rose before Pelosi’s visit, Chinese jets invaded Taiwan’s air defence zones. In other news, the race to become the UK’s next Prime Minister had to be postponed, which put a snag in the campaign. The decision was made as a result of information from the GCHQ space agency that cyber hackers were attempting to influence the results of the vote, as per a report by the Telegraph. Finally, the alleged lover of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the billionaire who owns the second-largest estate in London were blacklisted by the US as a part of the recent sanctions related to the Ukraine invasion.

Click on headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-nancy-pelosi-in-taiwan-china-summons-us-ambassador-503061">LIVE updates: We will always stand with Taiwan, says Nancy Pelosi</a>

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China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province which it says it will unify by force if necessary. China's view on Taiwan was reflected as vice premier Xie declared:&nbsp;"Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/conservative-party-voting-for-next-uk-pm-delayed-after-gchq-hacking-alert-report-503064">Conservative Party voting for next UK PM delayed after GCHQ hacking alert: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/07/26/282005-sunak.jpg" />

While the agency did not specify the source of the threat, they said that the process was vulnerable to cyber-attacks and advised against going forward with the process. That resulted in the Conservative Party making it clear that new members will no longer be able to change their votes later in the Prime Minister race, the report further stated.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-russian-oligarchs-and-putins-girlfriend-for-involvement-in-ukraine-war-503057">US sanctions Russian oligarchs and Putin's 'girlfriend' for involvement in Ukraine war</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/08/03/284045-2oavnxmxbfocpktnbzdnyze3rq.jpg" />

Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast who is frequently referred to as Putin's girlfriend, and Natalya Popova, the wife of Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the sizable sovereign wealth fund run by the Russian government, were both sanctioned by the Treasury. According to the Treasury, Popova works for Innopraktika, a technological company that is owned by one of Putin's daughters.

Watch |&nbsp;Iran steps up its nuclear programme after US sanctions

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Watch |&nbsp;China brands Pelosi's Taiwan visit 'extremely dangerous'

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Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, arrived in Taiwan amid an escalating crisis between the US and China. The Communist nation started conducting military drills close to the island nation.

Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, arrived in Taiwan amid an escalating crisis between the US and China. The Communist nation started conducting military drills close to the island nation. As tensions in the area rose before Pelosi’s visit, Chinese jets invaded Taiwan’s air defence zones. In other news, the race to become the UK’s next Prime Minister had to be postponed, which put a snag in the campaign. The decision was made as a result of information from the GCHQ space agency that cyber hackers were attempting to influence the results of the vote, as per a report by the Telegraph. Finally, the alleged lover of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the billionaire who owns the second-largest estate in London were blacklisted by the US as a part of the recent sanctions related to the Ukraine invasion. Click on headlines to read more: LIVE updates: We will always stand with Taiwan, says Nancy Pelosi China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province which it says it will unify by force if necessary. China's view on Taiwan was reflected as vice premier Xie declared: "Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland". Conservative Party voting for next UK PM delayed after GCHQ hacking alert: Report While the agency did not specify the source of the threat, they said that the process was vulnerable to cyber-attacks and advised against going forward with the process. That resulted in the Conservative Party making it clear that new members will no longer be able to change their votes later in the Prime Minister race, the report further stated. US sanctions Russian oligarchs and Putin's 'girlfriend' for involvement in Ukraine war Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast who is frequently referred to as Putin's girlfriend, and Natalya Popova, the wife of Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the sizable sovereign wealth fund run by the Russian government, were both sanctioned by the Treasury. According to the Treasury, Popova works for Innopraktika, a technological company that is owned by one of Putin's daughters. Watch | Iran steps up its nuclear programme after US sanctions Watch | China brands Pelosi's Taiwan visit 'extremely dangerous'

Morning news brief: ‘Will always stand with Taiwan,’ says Pelosi, voting for UK's next PM postponed, and more

The United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed from Taiwan on Wednesday (August 3) evening, ending a historic as well as a controversial tour. The vital trip has angered China, which believed that Pelosi's visit to the island nation would "lead to egregious political impact". This was the highest-level US visit to Taiwan in 25 years.&nbsp;

Calling the visit a provocation, furious Beijing even geared up for military exercises dangerously close to Taiwan's shores in retaliation for the visit. The United States warned China against using the visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.&nbsp;

Leading a congressional delegation to Taiwan is a win for Pelosi but it certainly has caused a headache for the already politically tensed region. With a pledge of solidarity to Taiwan, she is also leaving a trail of Chinese anger.&nbsp;

Pelosi, who is second in line to the US presidency, told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, "Our delegation came to Taiwan to make unequivocally clear that we will not abandon Taiwan. Now, more than ever, America's solidarity with Taiwan is crucial, and that’s the message we are bringing here, today," she said during her roughly 19-hour visit."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-nancy-pelosis-taiwan-visit-china-suspends-some-trade-with-taipei-503287">After Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit, China suspends some trade with Taipei</a>&nbsp;

"Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will... continue to hold the line of defence for democracy," Tsai said at an event with Pelosi in Taipei.&nbsp;

Tsai also thanked the 82-year-old US lawmaker for "taking concrete actions to show your staunch support for Taiwan at this critical moment".&nbsp;

On Wednesday evening, Pelosi's delegation left Taiwan. Her next stop is the ongoing Asia tour in South Korea and after that, she will head to Japan.&nbsp;

China has claimed Taiwan as its own territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s and claims that Tsai Ing-wen will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence - a red line for the nation. Beijing even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Taiwan has its own constitution and leaders are elected democratically and the US says it backs the sovereignty of the island nation - the same war reiterated by Pelosi during her visit.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pelosi-in-taiwan-how-spar19-became-the-most-tracked-flight-of-all-time-503176">Pelosi in Taiwan: How SPAR19 became the most tracked flight of all time</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

China imposes trade ban

Apart from military drills, China also imposed a trade ban by announcing a suspension of imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan in retaliation. While its commerce ministry banned the export of natural sand to Taiwan.&nbsp;

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The United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed from Taiwan on Wednesday (August 3) evening, ending a historic as well as a controversial tour. The vital trip has angered China, which believed that Pelosi's visit to the island nation would "lead to egregious political impact".

The United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed from Taiwan on Wednesday (August 3) evening, ending a historic as well as a controversial tour. The vital trip has angered China, which believed that Pelosi's visit to the island nation would "lead to egregious political impact". This was the highest-level US visit to Taiwan in 25 years. Calling the visit a provocation, furious Beijing even geared up for military exercises dangerously close to Taiwan's shores in retaliation for the visit. The United States warned China against using the visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan. Leading a congressional delegation to Taiwan is a win for Pelosi but it certainly has caused a headache for the already politically tensed region. With a pledge of solidarity to Taiwan, she is also leaving a trail of Chinese anger. Pelosi, who is second in line to the US presidency, told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, "Our delegation came to Taiwan to make unequivocally clear that we will not abandon Taiwan. Now, more than ever, America's solidarity with Taiwan is crucial, and that’s the message we are bringing here, today," she said during her roughly 19-hour visit." ALSO READ | After Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit, China suspends some trade with Taipei "Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will... continue to hold the line of defence for democracy," Tsai said at an event with Pelosi in Taipei. Tsai also thanked the 82-year-old US lawmaker for "taking concrete actions to show your staunch support for Taiwan at this critical moment". On Wednesday evening, Pelosi's delegation left Taiwan. Her next stop is the ongoing Asia tour in South Korea and after that, she will head to Japan. China has claimed Taiwan as its own territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s and claims that Tsai Ing-wen will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence - a red line for the nation. Beijing even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories. On the other hand, Taiwan has its own constitution and leaders are elected democratically and the US says it backs the sovereignty of the island nation - the same war reiterated by Pelosi during her visit. ALSO READ | Pelosi in Taiwan: How SPAR19 became the most tracked flight of all time China imposes trade ban Apart from military drills, China also imposed a trade ban by announcing a suspension of imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan in retaliation. While its commerce ministry banned the export of natural sand to Taiwan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan trip provokes China: A win for her, but a headache for the region