Beijing: China’s Foreign Ministry early on Wednesday local time lodged protest with US Ambassador Nicholas Burns over unannounced visit by Pelosi to Taiwan which Beijing calls its “breakaway province.”

“Nature of Pelosi’s visit is extremely vicious and consequence is very grave,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng told Burns.

“US must pay price for its own mistake. China will take necessary and resolute countermeasures and we mean what we say,” Chinese diplomat told US Ambassador.

Calling Pelosi’s trip an “unscrupulous move,” Xie told Burns that US should have “prevented her (Pelosi) from going against historical trend but instead indulged her and colluded with her which exacerbates tension in Taiwan Straits and seriously damages China-US ties.”

“Chinese side will not sit idly by,” Xie told Burns, saying visit is “a serious provocation and violation of one-China principle,” Chinese daily Global Times reported.

Despite a string of warnings, including military action, Pelosi flew to Taiwan from Malaysia. Pelosi was received by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu as she landed at Taipei Songshan Airport. Two hotels have been booked to host accompanying delegation of US lawmakers and officials.

Soon after Pelosi landed in Taiwan, Chinese military announced to hold military drills around self-ruled island, home to over 24 million people. Taiwanese Defense Ministry said around 21 Chinese military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone a buffer zone outside a country’s airspace, where it has right to ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves.

Chinese state media released videos showing that People’s Liberation Army commenced joint military exercises “surrounding island of Taiwan.”