China's Communist Party has announced sanctions on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers, apparently in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The Chinese ruling party on Tuesday said that it would impose sanctions on "diehard separatists" for colluding with external forces in provocations advocating "Taiwan independence."

The seven targeted individuals include the head of Taiwan's representative office in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, and lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

China says they will be banned from entering the mainland and the regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

Enterprises related to them, as well as their sponsors, will be prohibited from engaging in profit-making activities on the mainland.

The Communist Party stressed that their activities became more egregious during Pelosi's visit, further exposing their obstinate nature in seeking "Taiwan independence."

China has been nervous about Taiwan forging close ties with Western nations. Last November, Beijing imposed sanctions on Taiwan's premier and foreign minister, including a ban on visits to China.

On Monday, China announced it staged military drills around Taiwan in response to a US congressional delegation's visit to Taipei.