Following the landing of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan, China's defense ministry announced "a series of targeted military operations" to defend China's "national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The Chinese armed forces had been "put on the highest combat readiness", it said on Tuesday.

Friederike Böge

Political correspondent for China, North Korea and Mongolia.

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The official Xinhua News Agency issued a statement saying the military would hold "major military maneuvers and training activities, including target practice, in six sea areas around the island of Taiwan."

Six sea areas around Taiwan would be closed to shipping.

The maneuvers would last from Thursday to Sunday. 

Pelosi is the highest-ranking American visitor in 25 years.

After landing, she tweeted, "America's solidarity with the 23 million Taiwanese is more important than ever today as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy."

Her visit does not conflict with America's long-established policy on Taiwan.

Beijing: America will 'pay a price'

The United States and China have blamed each other for heightened tensions in the region.

According to a statement, Foreign Minister Wang Yi threatened that American politicians who "play with fire" would "not come to a good end".

His spokeswoman said America will "pay a price."

Russia sided with China.

A Kremlin spokesman described Pelosi's visit as "pure provocation".

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there was "no reason for Beijing" to use the visit as "an excuse to step up aggressive military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait."

According to a report in the Financial Times newspaper, Pelosi plans to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen this Wednesday.

The Chinese military increased its activities in the region.

Among other things, several military aircraft flew to the informal center line in the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwanese information.

China announced "major military maneuvers and training activities, including target practice, in six sea areas around the island of Taiwan."

They would last from Thursday to Sunday.

The American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was staying south of Taiwan with three escort ships.

A US military official said it was ready "to respond to any eventuality."

But these are “normal routine postings”.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it would respond to "enemy threats" with the deployment of an appropriate number of forces.

Taiwan's military increased the readiness of the armed forces by one notch within the "normal readiness" spectrum.

The Taiwanese news agency CNA reported on Beijing's economic punitive measures.

China has blocked market access for 35 Taiwanese exporters.