Nancy Pelosi has landed in Taiwan in defiance of threats of retaliation from Beijing.

The US House Speaker is the highest-level US official to visit the island in 25 years.

China has confirmed it will conduct military exercises in the region over the coming days, including long-range firing and conventional missile firing on waters east of Taiwan.

The nation confirmed China’s air force jets entered the Taiwan Strait moments before Ms Pelosi touched down.

Ms Pelosi was met by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on the tarmac at Taipei Songshan Airport when she landed at 10.50pm local time on Tuesday night.

China’s foreign ministry has warned the trip “seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

But Ms Pelosi insists her presence is a critical show of support for Taiwan’s democracy.

She is expected to hold talks with President Tsai Ing-wen in the coming hours.

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