China holds military drills around Taiwan to warn against independence

China conducted large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan on Monday, in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's national day speech that China has no right to represent Taiwan.

HONG KONG — China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Monday in what it said was a warning to “independence forces” on the Beijing-claimed island.

The exercises had been expected after Beijing criticized a speech last week by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. In the speech marking Taiwan’s National Day, Lai said that China had no right to represent the self-ruling democracy and its 23 million people but that he was willing to work with Beijing to address global challenges such as climate change.

China, which has not ruled out the use of force in achieving its unification goal, views Lai as a separatist and a “troublemaker.” The Chinese military also held two days of “punishment” drills around Taiwan after his inauguration in May.

The Chinese military said Monday evening local time that the latest exercises, known as “Joint Sword-2024B,” had been “successfully completed” after one day.

The drills were held around the north, south and east of Taiwan and were meant to test the joint operations capability of the Chinese army, navy, air force and rocket force, the Chinese National Defense Ministry said in an earlier statement. Vessels and aircraft approached the island “in close proximity from different directions,” the statement said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-holds-military-drills-taiwan-warn-independence-rcna175231

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