Russia's Lavrov: Pelosi visit to Taiwan creates 'annoyance'

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks next to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on Wednesday that a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was a deliberate attempt by Washington to irritate China.

"I see no other reason to create such an annoyance almost out of the blue, knowing very well what it means for the People's Republic of China," Lavrov said on a visit to Myanmar.

Pelosi's arrival on Tuesday in Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, prompted a furious response from Beijing at a time when international tensions are already elevated by the conflict in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Heavens)