China surrounds Taiwan for military and coastguard drills

Chinese military and coastguard personnel surrounded Taiwan's main island yesterday for a day of largescale drills that Beijing said were a warning against "separatist acts" in the wake of a recent speech by Taiwan's president.

- Helen Davidson, Chi-hui Lin

State media linked the drills to a National Day speech last Thursday by Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, in which he repeated that the People's Republic of China "has no right to represent Taiwan", but that he was willing to work with it to maintain peace and stability.

The drills began before dawn and without prior notice. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) said all branches of the military were approaching Taiwan by sea and air, including in a strike group led by one of China's two active aircraft carriers, the Liaoning.

The joint drills focused on sea and air combat readiness, blockading key Taiwanese ports and areas, and assaults on maritime and ground targets, said the eastern theatre command's spokesperson, senior captain Li Xi. "The drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces," Li added.