PHNOM PENH — Southeast Asian foreign ministers urged restraint Thursday as China readied massive military drills off Taiwan, warning the situation risked spiraling into "open conflicts".

A furious Beijing is planning its biggest-ever exercises around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island.

Ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Phnom Penh warned against "provocative action".

The situation "could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers," the ministers said in a joint statement published Thursday.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory to one day be reclaimed, by force if necessary, was enraged by the trip by Pelosi -- the highest-profile elected US official to visit the island in 25 years.

It vowed "punishment" and announced military drills, including live-fire exercises, expected to begin at 12 noon (Manila time) in several areas encircling Taiwan.

• Taiwan's Tsai defiant as China readies military drills over Pelosi visit

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in Phnom Penh for talks with ASEAN, condemned the Chinese response.

"There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait. It is normal and routine for legislators from our countries to travel internationally," he tweeted.

• The Taiwan Strait: A history of crises

Kung Phoak, Cambodia's deputy foreign minister and ASEAN spokesman, urged both sides to stabilize the situation.

“We hope de-escalation happens… and normalcy returns to the Taiwan Strait,” he told reporters.

• China's Pelosi bombast shows insecurity over Taiwan: analysts

ASEAN is split between countries with close ties to China, such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, and others that are warier of Beijing and its growing international assertiveness.

But no ASEAN country formally recognizes Taiwan and none have shown an appetite for backing Taipei against the communist giant.

© Agence France-Presse

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