Beijing has sanctioned the House Speaker over her visit to Taiwan.

Today, the Chinese government announced new sanctions on United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as penalty for her visit to Taiwan earlier this week.

China sanctions US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family after Taiwan trip https://t.co/5MuTdZ8JxH pic.twitter.com/jTAfGoqUaZ

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 5, 2022

“U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan in disregard of China’s serious concerns and firm opposition, seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs, seriously undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously trampling on the one-China principle, and seriously threatening the peace and stability across Taiwan Strait,” a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

“In response to Pelosi’s vicious and provocative actions, China has decided to impose sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family,” the statement said.

China sanctions Pelosi over 'provocative' visit to Taiwan https://t.co/bfBfhGqzh0 pic.twitter.com/VP64XZyLvO

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 5, 2022

In response to the sanctions, Pelosi explained that the only purpose of her visit was to ensure the status quo, and that she had no subversive intentions or goals. “It’s about the Taiwan Relations Act, the US-China policy, all of the pieces of legislation and agreements that have established what our relationship is – to have peace in the Taiwan Strait and to have the status quo prevail,” she said.

“This isn’t about me – it’s about them,” she added. “It’s about Taiwan, and I am proud to have worked over the years to showcase the concerns that they have with mainland China.”