China has summoned its US envoy to complain against and condemn United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan despite its strong opposition. The country has also announced several economic measures against Taiwan for hosting the veteran US politician. This was the first time in 25 years that a US Speaker visited Taiwan. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had started conducting military drills even before Pelosi landed in the northwestern Pacific island, and is set to increase the intensity of the same in the coming days.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement where it said that Pelosi’s visit “has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the United States of violating China’s sovereignty “under the guise of so-called democracy” while he was attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia. Here’s what he said:

Also Read| Nancy Pelosi’s Asia tour: Her stance on China over the years

Moreover,  vice-foreign minister Xie Feng told US envoy Nicholas Burns that “the move is extremely egregious in nature and the consequences are extremely serious. China will not sit idly by”.

Boosting the PLA’s military drills near the region, the country’s defence minister announced that the PLA will conduct “conventional missile firepower test launching in the eastern waters off the Taiwan Island”.

China has already suspended certain food imports from Taiwan, including chilled white striped hairtail, citrus fruits, and frozen horse mackerel, and will itself stop all exports of natural sand to Taiwan from August 3.

Also Read| A brief history of the China-Taiwan conflict

Taiwanese companies like Speedtech Energy, Hyweb Technology, Skyla, SkyEyes GPS Technology, and others are also set to be affected by Chinese decrees. The country has said that it will take strict measures against any mainland organization that deals with such companies. The Xi Jinping government complains that such companies have donated money to institutions supporting Taiwanese independence.