China stages military drills off Taiwan in warning to ‘separatists'
China's military has launched a new round of military exercises around Taiwan in its latest 'warning' to Taipei's democratic government.
The People's Liberation Army said on Tuesday that the drills served as a 'powerful deterrent' to 'separatist forces' advocating Taiwanese independence.
The exercises are intended to test the 'combat readiness' of China's army, navy, air force, and rocket force and their ability to work together during a joint military operation, the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.
The drills will be carried out from multiple directions around Taiwan and focus on 'sea and air combat readiness patrols, seizing comprehensive control, sea and land strikes, and blocking key areas and roads,' the Eastern Theater Command said.
China considers Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, part of its territory and has pledged to take control of the island by force if necessary.
Beijing's Communist Party views Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te and his Democratic Progressive Party as 'separatists', and has increasingly staged military exercises in response to the their activities.
The latest round of military exercises follows a speech made by Lai last month in which he described Beijing as a 'foreign hostile force.'
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office blasted Lai in a statement on Monday, and accused the president of stirring up 'anti-China sentiment' and intensifying tension in the Taiwan Strait.
China last held military exercises around Taiwan in December.
The Taiwan-based Prospect Foundation think tank said that the exercises were also intended to enhance 'joint combat readiness patrol.'
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