BREAKING: China holds large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands

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From The Associated Press: China was holding large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday.

China’s Defense Ministry said the drills were a response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s refusal to concede to Beijing’s demands that Taiwan acknowledge itself as a part of the People’s Republic of China under the rule of the Communist Party.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry called the drills a provocation and said its forces were prepared to respond.

Lai took office in May, continuing the eight-year rule of the Democratic Progressive Party that rejects China’s demand that it recognize Taiwan is a part of China. China routinely states that Taiwan independence is a “dead end” and that annexation by Beijing is a historical inevitability.

On Thursday, Taiwan celebrated its “National Day” holiday, complete with a parade. During his address at the celebrations, Lai said, “As president, my mission is to ensure that our nation endures and progresses, and to unite the 23 million people of Taiwan. I will also uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty.”

“We must strengthen resilience throughout Taiwan in national defense, economic livelihoods, disaster prevention and democracy,” Lai said.

Now China has launched a massive military drill around Taiwan. More from Reuters:

The Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command said the “Joint Sword-2024B” drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan.

“The 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,” 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 – two on the island’s east coast, three on the west coast, one to the north and three around Taiwan-controlled islands next to the Chinese coast.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has posted the following statements on social media:

#PLA Eastern Theater Command has announced joint military exercises in the surrounding waters and airspace near Taiwan. #ROCArmedForces strongly condemn the PLA’s irrational and provocative actions and will deploy appropriate forces to respond and defend our national sovereignty.

25 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 4 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 8 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

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