China conducts air, sea drills near Taiwan, blaming recent statements by US, Taiwanese leaders

The ministry on Tuesday published on its social media several images of Chinese drones and ships and said 43 out of 59 of them entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone but that no confrontations were reported.
Taiwan monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, navy ships and coastal anti-ship missile defences in response, the ministry said.
China launches such missions on a daily basis in hopes of wearing down Taiwanese defences and morale, although the vast majority of the island's 23 million people reject Beijing's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and its threat to use force to assert its control.
It's unclear what prompted the large Chinese deployment. Daily figures often vary widely based on statements by the Taiwanese authorities or their US partners.

Live Events

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday the drills were «a resolute response to foreign connivance and support to Taiwan independence, and a serious warning to Taiwan separatist forces».
China's military actions are «necessary, legal and justified measures to defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity», Mao said.
«In particular, the United States deleted the literal expression that reflected the one-China principle and that did not support Taiwan independence on the website of the US Department of State, which indicates wrong signals to Taiwan separatist forces,» Mao was quoted as saying.
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te also raised Beijing's hackles last week when he said that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a «foreign hostile force» and said tougher measures were being taken to prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges.
Lai also warned of the danger of