China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday, including testing “an all-out siege” of the self-governing island after the president met with the leader of the US House of Representatives.

The moves “serve as a clear warning against collusion between separatist forces pursuing ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces,” a military spokesman, Shi Yin, said in a statement.

“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to take control of the sea, airspace and information […] to create a deterrent and total encirclement” of Taiwan, China’s state television, CCTV, said.

According to the television, destroyers, fast missile ships, fighter planes and tankers will be deployed during the exercises.

The exact location of these operations has not been disclosed, but on Monday there will be live fire off the coast of Fujian province, just outside Taiwan, the regional maritime authority said in a statement.

The narrowest stretch of the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and the island is about 130 km wide.

The announcement comes after a meeting Wednesday in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Shortly after the controversial meeting, Beijing warned it would take “firm and effective measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

China considers this island of democratic rule as part of its territory and opposes any contact between Taiwan’s leaders and representatives of other countries.

For the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, the Chinese exercises are seriously undermining peace, stability and security in the region.

President Tsai, in turn, denounced China’s “continued authoritarian expansionism”.

The United States asked the Asian giant on Saturday afternoon to exercise “restraint” in its military exercises around Taiwan.

“Our communication channels with the People’s Republic of China remain open and we have always called for restraint and not to change the status quo,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.