Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Photo: VCG

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that she doesn't care about the sanctions China had imposed against her and her immediate family members over her provocative visit to the island of Taiwan.

It is, of course, impossible for Pelosi to admit to the public that she has been affected by the sanctions. But given what the public knows about the "rich woman on Capitol Hill," China's sanctions will inevitably cause her pain. 

It is only a matter of time before Pelosi and her family feel the pain of being sanctioned, and no one should have any doubt about China's determination to punish those undermining China's sovereignty and trampling on the one-China principle. 

Pelosi has become the highest-ranking US politician sanctioned by China. Moreover, China imposed sanctions on Pelosi during her term, instead of waiting until she steps down. Such a move demonstrates China's strong resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and national interests.

But perhaps the most extraordinary exception is that China hasn't specified its sanction measures this time. Based on Chinese sanctions against other American politicians like Mike Pompeo, it can be expected that any ties of interest with China linked to the business activities of Pelosi and her immediate family members will be severed. 

Also, all companies in the US or third-party countries that want to do business in China will be careful and try to avoid economic contact with the Pelosi family.

These measures alone may already be enough to take a heavy toll on Pelosi's family. It has been a while that Pelosi has been criticized of taking advantage of her position to seek business interests for her family, which operates a big business empire.

Still China has left plenty of room for imagination about how they will punish Pelosi for her provocations on the Taiwan question. This may be because the scope of the sanctions may be very broad and more preparation and investigation is needed to strike the blow.

To make Pelosi suffer a visible and painful loss, it is necessary to conduct an investigation into the Pelosi family's vast wealth first. Direct and indirect ties of financial interest linked with China can  be a target for further follow-up measures such as freeze or confiscation.

Indeed, China can calmly decide how to punish Pelosi based on the investigation results, striking precise blows step by step and making Pelosi fully feel the lasting pain and loss of Chinese sanctions.

China could even develop a sanction mechanism based on Pelosi's case, increasing the deterrent effect on US politicians who undermine China's national core interest. If anyone wants to play with fire on the Taiwan question again, he or she needs to see the unbearable costs of such provocation.