China slaps curbs on Taiwan as Pelosi vows 'ironclad' defence of democracy

Restrictions range from fruit and fish imports to export of natural sand

China rolled out curbs Wednesday on the import of fruit and fish from Taiwan while halting shipments of sand to the island in the wake of a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The trip by Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency and the highest-profile elected US official to visit Tai­wan in 25 years, has ignited a diplomatic firestorm. Pelosi has left Taiwan after a brief but controversial visit.

She landed in Taiwan late Tuesday in the wake of increasingly stark warnings from China, which considers the island a part of its territory to one day be reclaimed,