The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese military announced on Sunday evening that it would hold cross-service military exercises around Taiwan. The exercises were confirmed by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry on Monday.
The ministry reported that 57 aircraft and 4 naval vessels from China were detected in the areas around Taiwan. The exercises, which have become increasingly routine, were the first carried about by the Chinese military in 2023.
Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Chang Tun-Han (張惇涵) strongly condemned the exercises in a statement on Monday. He says Taiwan will not escalate or provoke conflict, but will resolutely defend its sovereignty and national security.
Chinese state media said the exercises were in response to collusion between foreign and so-called “Taiwanese independence” forces, and that the drills would intensify unless provocations were to cease.
It cited among other issues the recent passage of a US naval vessel through the Taiwan Strait. The United States has stated that most of the strait is international waters and military assets can therefore freely pass through it.