China on Friday said it is canceling or suspending dialogue with the U.S. on a range of issues, including climate change, military relations and anti-drug efforts, in retaliation for a visit this week to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The measures, which come amid cratering relations between Beijing and Washington, are the latest in a promised series of steps intended to punish the U.S. for allowing Pelosi’s visit to the island it claims as its own territory. China on Thursday launched threatening military exercises in six zones just off Taiwan’s coasts that it says will run through Sunday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said dialogue between U.S. and Chinese regional commanders and defense department heads would be canceled, along with talks on military maritime safety.

Cooperation on returning illegal immigrants, criminal investigations, transnational crime, illegal drugs and climate change will be suspended, the ministry said.

Source: National News Agency