China's current and future comprehensive measures are necessary and timely defensive countermeasures. They have been carefully considered and evaluated, are aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and security and are in line with international and domestic laws, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Cambodia on Thursday when elaborating China's position on the provocative actions of the US that are in violation of China's sovereignty.

For the past week, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to the island of Taiwan has sparked growing international concern.

Shortly after Pelosi arrived at Taipei's Songshan Airport, five Chinese departments issued statements to condemn the visit, stating that it has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Chinese embassies in countries like the UK, Japan and India all released similarly stern messages, and Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang lodged solemn representations and strong protests with the US White House National Security Council and the US Department of State.

At 12 pm on Thursday, PLA Eastern Theater Command Army started to conduct important military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills in six large maritime areas and their air space surrounding the island of Taiwan, in its north, northeast, east, south, southwest and northwest. The drills will last to Sunday noon.

Also on Thursday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, condemned Hsiao Bi-khim, the island of Taiwan's representative to the US, for having frequently spread remarks seeking "Taiwan independence" and worked hard to encourage US politicians to visit the island, which is openly provoking the one-China principle, seriously undermining cross-Straits relations and further exacerbating the tension and unrest across the Straits. The spokesperson warned that anyone who betrays the interests of the nation and seeks "Taiwan independence" will never see a fortune end and will surely face historical reckoning.

In addition, mainland customs authorities announced on Wednesday morning the suspension of imports of citrus fruits and some frozen fish imports from the island. It also suspended exports of natural sand, of which Taiwan reportedly sources over 90 percent from the mainland.

Wang said that the US side tramples on international law, violates bilateral commitments, undermines peace across the Taiwan Straits, and supports secessionists and advocates confrontation, which is a flagrant provocation to the Chinese people and the people of peace-loving countries in the region and a political gamble that is bound to bring negative effects.

Pelosi's performance is another bankruptcy of US politics, US diplomacy and US credibility, and a proof that the US is the biggest destroyer of peace across the Taiwan Straits and the biggest troublemaker of regional stability, Wang said on Thursday. "If China does not firmly resist such reckless, irresponsible and irrational actions of the US, the principle of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in international relations will become a dead letter, and the hard-won peace and stability of the region will be seriously undermined."

Wang stressed that the incident was planned and provoked single- handedly by the US, and the causes and consequences and the right and wrong are clear to understand fully at one glance. To avoid this "crisis" imposed on China, China has already made the greatest diplomatic efforts, but at the same time, China will never tolerate any attempt to create tension, instigate confrontation or instigate division in the region, Wang noted. China will never allow anyone to jeopardize China's core interests and the process of national rejuvenation and will never sit idly by while the US plays the "Taiwan card" to serve the selfish desires of its domestic politicians.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang has no plan to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken although both are attending the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in Phnom Penh this week. The decision is seen by observers as a signal that reflects the severity of Pelosi's provocative visit, and also shows China's outrage toward US's provocations.