BEIJING: Tension growing between China and US as Chinese military announced to launch targeted operation after United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi  arrived in Taiwan.

Pelosi plane landed on Tuesday evening in Taipei despite China's several warnings.

Nancy Pelosi, who embarked on an Asian tour Sunday, made an unannounced stop in Taiwan, in what was considered a show of support for Taiwan, despite Beijing's warnings not to do so, CNA reported.

She is the first US speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997 when her predecessor Republican Newt Gingrich traveled to Taipei and met with then-President Lee Teng-hui, according to the agency report. 

“Our visit reiterates that America stands with Taiwan: a robust, vibrant democracy and our important partner in the Indo-Pacific,” Pelosi tweeted after arrival in Taiwan.

“By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be respected,” she added.

Her visit angered China as she disregarded Beijing's warning who has warned that its military "won't sit by idly" if its "sovereignty and territorial integrity" are threatened. It added that Washington would bear responsibility for any countermeasures China takes against Pelosi's visit

“PLA will launch a series of targeted military operations to counter Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan island, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” state-run Global Times quoted the  Ministry of National Defense said.

China consider Taiwan, self-ruled island, home to over 24 million people, sits across the Taiwan Strait on the south of mainland China,  as its breakaway province 

Earlier, Chinese media said that PLA Eastern Theater Command launched joint military ops around Taiwan, with joint maritime and air drills in N, SW,SE of island, long-range artillery shooting in Taiwan Straits, and conventional missile test firing in sea regions E of the island started Tuesday.

Beijing also warned Washington that any attempt at the independence of Taiwan will be crushed by the strong power of the Chinese people. 

“No matter how people like Pelosi act to support Taiwan island and contain China, they can't stop China's reunification process. Reunification must and will be achieved,” said Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee

“DPP must abandon the "Taiwan independence" attempt as any such move will be crushed by the strong power of the Chinese people in opposing "Taiwan independence" and promoting reunification,” its added.