Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, in pictures

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, has visited Taiwan, despite warnings of severe consequences from China which claims the self-ruling island as its own.

Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Beijing has made clear that it regards her presence in Taiwan as a major provocation, setting the region on edge.

China’s military said it was on “high alert” and would “launch a series of targeted military actions in response” to the visit.

Taiwan said the trip displayed “rock solid” support from Washington.