The People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced the two days of drills surrounding Taiwan and its islands near the Chinese border. It said the drills were in direct response to what it called "separatist acts" by Taiwan's government. On Monday Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's president after winning democratic elections in January.
Chinese state media said jets loaded with missiles had successfully practised strikes against "high-value military targets" during the drills.
Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 15 PLA warships around the territory's perimeter, along with 16 marine police vessels and 49 warplanes, of which 35 crossed the median line, the de facto border between China and Taiwan. It said there were no live-fire exercises in the sea and Chinese authorities did not declare any no-fly zones. Chinese naval vessels came within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan's main island and remained there, it said.
"I have confidence in the military," Lai said at a military base yesterday. "I also ask all my compatriots to rest assured."
Taiwan's presidential office said the drills threatened Taiwan's freedom and democracy, and its defence ministry accused China of "irrational provocation and disruption of regional peace and stability".
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