Some 33 Chinese military aircraft, 15 naval vessels and 16 coastguard vessels were operating within Taiwan’s air-defence identification zone, the island’s defence ministry said in a statement.
The Chinese consulate in New York countered that it was Lai’s inauguration speech that had been provocative.
“Lai’s speech stubbornly followed the ‘Taiwan independence’ stance, wantonly advocated separatism, incited cross-strait confrontation and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.”
Beijing sees Taiwan as a part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. But Washington opposes any attempt to take the self-governed island by force.
The US is legally bound to support Taiwan’s military defence capability and has backed the island’s expanded presence in global health, crime prevention and aviation – objectives that Beijing opposes.
The PLA said the drills were designed to focus on naval-and-air combat readiness patrols, seizing battlefield control, precise strikes of crucial targets as well as warship and aircraft patrols near the island.
The aim was to “test the joint combat and real combat capabilities of the theatre forces”, it added.
“While Taiwan is celebrating its democracy, China’s disdain for their values is on full display,” said US senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services committee, on Thursday.
“I will continue to ensure that the US$2 billion in foreign military funds … is correctly spent to help our Taiwanese ally.”
Added the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance: “We call upon our governments, together with all of those committed to regional peace and stability, to loudly condemn these actions without delay, to reaffirm shared commitment to maintaining the status quo and to signal resolute willingness to resist the threat or use of force.”