China holds large military exercises in ‘major warning’ to Taiwan

Beijing kicked off large-scale military exercises around Taiwan and its islands on Monday in what it called a “warning” against Taiwan’s independence.

The drills, which the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command said involved joint operations of the army, navy, air force and missile units, took place around Taiwan and in the Taiwan Strait — a body of water separating the island from China.

The spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command, Navy Senior Captain Li Xi, posted on social media that the drills were a “major warning to those who back Taiwan independence and a signifier of our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty.”

The drills come after Taiwain’s pro-democracy President Lai Ching-te gave a speech marking Taiwan’s National Day on Thursday, where he reiterated his belief that the island is a “sovereign and independent country” that is not subordinate to Beijing.

Ahead of the drills, the Eastern Theatre Command posted a propaganda video titled “Prepared for Battle” on social media. The video featured footage of fighter jets and warships positioning themselves.

The accompanying text said the command is “prepared for battle at all times and can fight anytime.”

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry condemned the drills as a “provocation” and said its forces were prepared to retaliate.

China’s military exercises around Taiwan have increased in regularity in recent years. In May, similar drills followed Lai’s inauguration.

In response to the exercises, Lai reassured Taiwanese citizens that the government would “defend the democratic and free constitutional system, protect democratic Taiwan, and safeguard national security” in a post on Facebook.

Lai, who rejects China’s demand that Taiwan should recognise itself as part of China, has been called a “dangerous separatist” by Beijing.

Taiwan was a Japanese colony before being unified with China at the end of World War II. It split away in 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalists fled to the island as Mao Zedong’s Communist Party swept to power on the mainland.

China’s ruling CCP believes that the two should “reunify” despite many in Taiwan wanting to retain the country’s independence.