BEIJING – Chinas military said it had conducted strike drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Sunday in response to unspecified provocation from the democratically governed island and the United States.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of repeated Chinese military activity nearby over the past three years or so as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty.
China staged war games around Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and on Saturday it condemned the United States for a new defence authorisation law that boosts military assistance for Taiwan.
In a brief statement, the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army said it had carried out joint combat readiness patrols and joint firepower strike drills around Taiwan, though it did not specify the exact location.
This is a resolute response to the current escalation of collusion and provocation from the United States and Taiwan, it added, without giving details.
Theatre forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwans defence ministry said Chinas actions once again highlight its mentality of resolving differences by force and destroying regional peace and stability.
Taiwan-US cooperation contributes to the freedom, openness, peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan will continue to boost its military in accordance with the enemy threat and its self-defence needs, the ministry said.
The Chinese Communists military intimidation acts are obviously aimed at cowing our people and are not conducive to (Chinas) international image, it added.
Taiwan has complained of repeated Chinese military activity nearby over the last three years or so as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty.
The United States is Taiwans most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. US arms sales to Taiwan are a constant irritant in Beijings relations with Washington.
Taiwans military is dwarfed by that of its huge neighbour China. Its air force in particular has come under strain from having to scramble repeatedly to see off Chinese incursions near the island over the past three years or so.
The Chinese drills coincided with newly elected city mayors and county chiefs in Taiwan taking up their positions following local elections on the island last month, in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was trounced.
China has never renounced using force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan strongly disputes Chinas sovereignty claims, saying only the islands 23 million people can decide their future. REUTERS More On This Topic Xis priority mission get PLA ready to win a war over Taiwan Beijing-friendly KMTs huge win in local elections does not mean Taiwan is pro-China: Analysts
