Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi addressed Taiwan's parliament, praising the country as one of the "freest societies of the world" and expressing a desire to strengthen connections between Taipei and Washington.

Beijing displayed its displeasure with Ms. Pelosi's presence on the island it claims to be a part of China by launching a military offensive in the surrounding waters.

Additionally, Chinese leaders summoned the US ambassador in Beijing and announced the suspension of several Taiwanese agricultural imports.

President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan presented Ms. Pelosi with a ribbon and medal representing the Order of Propitious Clouds with a Special Grand Cordon, which Ms. Pelosi characterized as "a symbol of America's strong and enduring friendship with Taiwan."

Ms. Pelosi stated during her talk that she wished to strengthen legislative interactions with Taiwan and considered it an honor to be regarded as a "good friend of Taiwan."

"We approach like friends. We appreciate your leadership, and we desire that the world recognize that, "Ms. Pelosi added.

"Taiwan's history is an inspiration to all freedom-loving individuals in the United States and around the world. From adversity you have developed a thriving democracy, one of the freest in the world, which is proudly governed by a woman president."

Ms. Pelosi stated that her tour had three objectives: "One is security, security for our people, global security, two is economics, to spread as much prosperity as possible, and three is governments."

She stated that a US bill on computer chips, which would result in substantial US investments in domestic semiconductor manufacture and scientific research, was an excellent chance for Taiwan to expand its cooperation.

In addition, the US Speaker praised Taiwan's management of the COVID-19 outbreak.

She concluded her address by expressing her eagerness to learn from Taiwan and advise on climate change and health issues.

Later that day, she was scheduled to meet with human rights campaigners.

China's customs agency halted imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail, and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan earlier on Wednesday. At the same time, its commerce ministry suspended exports of natural sand to Taiwan.

China's military announced combined air and sea operations near Taiwan and test launches of conventional missiles in the waters east of Taiwan shortly after Ms. Pelosi's arrival. Xinhua reported live-fire drills and other activities around Taiwan from Thursday through Sunday.

Before Ms. Pelosi's visit, Chinese jets had buzzed the border dividing the Taiwan Strait.

In response to her arrival, the Chinese military announced it would conduct "targeted military operations."

China's Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, to protest Ms. Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.

Vice Foreign Minister of China Xie Feng condemned the nature of Nancy Pelosi's visit as "vicious" and threatened immediate and severe repercussions.

After prior threats issued by Beijing before Ms. Pelosi arrived in Taipei, he warned that China would not sit quietly by.

The United States stated that the visit neither threatens China's sovereignty nor represents a shift in its One-China policy.

Wednesday, Taiwan's cabinet said that the military had boosted its degree of alertness.

The island's defense ministry reported that 21 Chinese aircraft entered the island's air defense identification zone on Tuesday and that China was attempting to threaten vital ports and cities by conducting exercises in the surrounding waters.

"The so-called drill areas are falling within the busiest international channels in the Indo-Pacific region," a senior Taiwanese official with knowledge of its security strategy told Reuters.

The individual stated, "We can see China's ambition: to make the Taiwan Strait non-international waters, as well as making the entire area west of the first island chain in the Western Pacific its sphere of influence,"

Ms. Pelosi is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in the past quarter-century. Her trip occurred as tensions between Washington and Beijing intensified.