China has started military exercises around Taiwan

Three days after Taiwan's new president Lai Qingde took office, China began large-scale military exercises in and around the island of Taiwan.

According to Australia's ABC news network, the Chinese military's Eastern Front Command issued a statement announcing that it has started joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the northern, southern and eastern regions of Taiwan Island and the Kinmen, Matsu, Wuxi and Dongyin islands near China.

Li Shi, spokesman for China's Eastern Front Command, announced that the exercise aims to "punish actions on the path of Taiwan independence and warn foreign powers not to interfere in the Taiwan issue."

According to reports, the military exercise called "United Sword-2024A" will last two days, and the exercise will involve land, air, sea and missile forces. During the exercise, joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint battlefield capture and control exercises, and joint strikes on key targets will be conducted.

The patrol vehicles will focus on areas around Taiwan Island in the exercise, the statement said. Each unit's true fighting ability will be tested through joint operations in and out of the island chain.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense condemned the exercise by the Chinese military on account "X" and stressed that Taiwan is not ready to go to war, but will not shy away from war if necessary: ​​"We have full confidence in protecting our national security."

The drills formed a cordon around Taiwan and began after the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected leader of the Taiwanese government, Lai Chingde, on May 20.