China holds large military exercises surrounding Taiwan to warn against independence

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China held large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday, deploying an aircraft carrier along with warplanes, in a move that underscores the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait.

China’s Defense Ministry said the drills were a response to the Taiwanese president’s refusal to concede to Beijing’s demands that self-ruled Taiwan acknowledge itself as a part of the People’s Republic of China under the rule of the Communist Party.

The drills came four days after Taiwan celebrated the founding of its government on its National Day, during which Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said in a speech that China has no right to represent Taiwan and declared his commitment to “resist annexation or encroachment.”

“Our military will definitely deal with the threat from China appropriately” said Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s security council at a forum in Taipei. “Threatening other countries with force violates the basic spirit of the United Nations Charter to resolve disputes through peaceful means.”

The Presidential Office of Taiwan called on China to “cease military provocations that undermine regional peace and stability and stop threatening Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”

A map aired on China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed six large blocks encircling Taiwan indicating where the military drills are being held, along with circles drawn around Taiwan’s outlying islands. China’s Defense Ministry has not said how long the drills will last.

China deployed its Liaoning aircraft carrier for the drills, and CCTV showed a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the decks of the carrier, though the exact location of the carrier is unclear.

The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command