China launched military training centers around Taiwan today in a “serious warning” to separatist forces, in an angry but widely expected response to Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai’s visit to the US, prompting a backlash from Taipei.

Lai, the front-runner in Taiwan’s January presidential election, returned from the United States yesterday, Friday. Officially he only made stopovers to and from Paraguay, but he gave speeches while in the US.

China considers Taiwan its territory despite strong objections from the island’s democratically elected government.

The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (LAS) said in a brief statement that it is conducting joint naval and air combat readiness patrols around the island.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said it spotted 42 Chinese aircraft and eight ships engaged in drills around the island as of this morning and deployed ships and aircraft in response.

Twenty-six Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the 100-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait, or areas beyond either end of the line, the ministry said in a statement. For decades, this line served as an unofficial barrier between the two armies.

The LAS’s eastern theater command said it is conducting joint naval and air force exercises and training, focusing on ship and aircraft coordination, takeover and anti-submarine exercises north and southwest of Taiwan to test “real combat capabilities.”

“It is a serious warning against the separatist forces who are in favor of the independence of Taiwan and in synergy with external forces are making provocations,” he said.

The administration released video footage allegedly taken today showing J-16 and J-10 fighters and a destroyer on patrol.

In the accompanying text, under the sounds of loud orchestral music, he said that in the high schools “the real fighting abilities of the joint operations of the forces in the theater will be tested”.

The equipment deployed included destroyers, frigates and fast missile attack boats, as well as fighters, early warning and interception aircraft that were “concentrated in a pre-determined area”, it said, without elaborating.

The forces conducted a “surrounding of the island from all directions,” it said.

Taiwan’s government has strongly condemned the high schools, with the defense ministry saying it has the ability, determination and confidence to ensure national security.

The government’s Mainland Affairs Council, which sets Taiwan’s policy toward China, called on Beijing to stop intimidation and start talks, saying Taiwanese people are determined to defend themselves and will never bow to threats of violence. .

“The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign country and has a legal and lawful right to conduct normal diplomatic interactions with friendly countries,” it added in a statement, using the island’s official name.

Taiwan’s defense ministry released short, undated video showing Taiwanese forces at sea, on city streets and in the countryside. Also with instrumental music in the background, the video is titled “we strongly defend national sovereignty and protect the people’s democratic freedoms and security!”

The full extent of today’s drills is not yet clear and there is no sign of alarm on Taiwan’s streets.