Taiwan’s foreign ministry scolded China on Thursday for “following the example of North Korea” by firing salvos of missiles into waters surrounding the island, as experts warn a brewing crisis in the Taiwan Strait could damage regional security more broadly.

The statement came after Chinese missiles soared high over Taiwan’s capital Thursday and splashed down off the island’s east coast, apparently launched in response to U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled democratic island earlier this week.