H China started military exercises around the Taiwan on Thursday (23/5), in response to “separatist actions”, sending in heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks.

These exercises off the Chinese coast are taking place just 3 days after he took office Lai Ching-Tea man Beijing loathes as “dangerous separatist».

China, which considers Taiwan its own province, denounced Lai’s opening speech on Monday, in which he called on Beijing to stop its threats, saying the two sides “do not submit to each other”.

China’s military announced that it began joint military drills, involving the army, navy, air force and missile force, in areas around Taiwan at 7:45 a.m. (2345 GMT).

The drills are taking place in the Taiwan Straits, in the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as in areas around the Taiwanese-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, the administration said in a statement. For the first time, China is conducting exercises involving areas around these islands.

Chinese state media said China sent dozens of missile-carrying fighter jets and carried out mock strikes, along with warships, on “high-value” military targets.

The exercises, called “Common Sword – 2024A”, are scheduled to last two days. However, unlike a similar “Joint Sword” exercise in April last year, these exercises are marked “A”, opening the door to possible follow-up actions.

Taiwan’s defense ministry condemned the drills as “absurd provocations”, saying it had sent forces to areas around the island, its air defenses and ground-based missile forces were tracking targets and it was confident it could protect its territory.

“Starting military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights (China’s) militaristic mentality,” the ministry said.

Taiwan’s presidency office expressed regret that China is threatening the island’s democratic freedoms with its “unilateral military provocations,” but said the world can rest assured that Taiwan can guarantee its security.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV said Lai’s inauguration speech was “extremely harmful” and China’s countermeasures are “legitimate, lawful and necessary.”

“Lai’s speech was a confession of Taiwan’s desire for independence and undermined cross-strait peace and stability. Taiwan’s future can only be decided by China’s 1.4 billion citizens, not just the 23 million people of Taiwan,” he added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented yesterday Tuesday that Taiwan’s separatists will go down “in history” as a monument of “shame”.

“Lai Ching-te’s betrayal of his nation and his ancestors is shameful,” insisted the minister, who accuses the new president in particular of wanting to deepen the separation of the island and the mainland, especially in culture.

This week China announced sanctions against US companies in retaliation for US arms sales to Taiwan.