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- Chinese military says the drills are a 鈥渟tern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.鈥�
- Refusing to be cowed, Taiwan鈥檚 defense ministry said it had dispatched its own forces
TAIPEI: China鈥檚 military started a new round of war games near Taiwan on Monday, saying it was a warning to the 鈥渟eparatist acts of Taiwan independence forces,鈥� and offered no date for when they may conclude, drawing condemnation from Taipei鈥檚 government.
Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, had been on alert for more war games since last week鈥檚 national day speech by President Lai Ching-te, an address Beijing condemned after Lai said China had no right to represent Taiwan even as he offered to cooperate with Beijing.
The Chinese military鈥檚 Eastern Theatre Command said the 鈥淛oint Sword-2024B鈥� drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan.
鈥淭he drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity,鈥� it said in a statement carried both in Chinese and English.
The command published a map showing nine areas around Taiwan where the drills were taking place 鈥� two on the island鈥檚 east coast, three on the west coast, one to the north and three around Taiwan-controlled islands next to the Chinese coast.
Chinese ships and aircraft are approaching Taiwan in 鈥渃lose proximity from different directions,鈥� focusing on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockading key ports and areas, assaulting maritime and ground targets and 鈥渏oint seizure of comprehensive superiority,鈥� the command said.
However, it did not announce any live-fire exercises or any no fly areas. In 2022, shortly after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China fired missiles over the island.
Map of Taiwan showing zones identified in Chinese military exercises around the island, according to mainland media. (AFP Illustration/File)
In rare operations, China鈥檚 coast guard circled Taiwan and staged 鈥渓aw enforcement鈥� patrols close to Taiwan鈥檚 offshore islands, according to Chinese state media.
Taiwan鈥檚 China policy making Mainland Affairs Council said that China鈥檚 latest war games and refusal to renounce the use of force were 鈥渂latant provocations鈥� that seriously undermined regional peace and stability.
In the face of the further political, military and economic threats posed by China to Taiwan in recent days, Taiwan would not back down, Taiwan鈥檚 China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement.
鈥淧resident Lai has already expressed his goodwill in his national day speech and is willing to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait together with the Chinese communists,鈥� it added.
Taiwan鈥檚 defense ministry said it had dispatched its own forces.
Lai鈥檚 national day speech highlighted the current state of cross-strait relations and the firm will to safeguard peace and stability and advocated future cooperation in coping with challenges like climate change, the ministry added.
鈥淭he Chinese communists鈥� claim of 鈥榩icking quarrels and provoking trouble鈥� is a complete departure from the truth,鈥� it added.
A senior Taiwan security official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said they believed China was practicing blockading Taiwanese ports to the north and south of the island and international shipping lanes as well as repelling the arrival of foreign forces.
Taiwan on Sunday had reported a Chinese aircraft carrier group sailing to the island鈥檚 south through the strategic Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines and connects the South China Sea to the Pacific.
Chinese state media has since Thursday run a series of stories and commentaries denouncing Lai鈥檚 speech, and on Sunday the Eastern Theatre Command released a video saying it was 鈥減repared for battle.鈥�
The PLA鈥檚 Liberation Army Daily newspaper wrote on Monday that 鈥渢hose who play with fire get burned!.鈥�
鈥淎s long as the 鈥楾aiwan independence鈥� provocations continue, the PLA鈥檚 actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not stop,鈥� the paper said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the war games. The US last week said China had no justification for using Lai鈥檚 national day speech as a pretext for military pressure.
China held the 鈥淛oint Sword-2024A鈥� drills for two days around Taiwan in May shortly after Lai took office, saying they were 鈥減unishment鈥� for separatist content in his inauguration speech.
Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan鈥檚 people can decide their future and rejects Beijing鈥檚 sovereignty claims.