China military encircles Taiwan in 'warning' drills

TAIPEI: China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan on Monday (Oct 14), in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a «stern warning» to «separatist» forces on the self-ruled island.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and Monday's drills represent its fourth round of large-scale war games in the past two years.

The United States said China's actions were «unwarranted» and risk «escalation» as it called on Beijing to act with restraint.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who took office in May, has been more outspoken than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, angering Beijing, which calls him a «separatist».

Lai vowed on Monday to «protect democratic Taiwan, and safeguard national security», while the defence ministry said it dispatched «appropriate forces» in response to the drills.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning hit back, saying: «Taiwan independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are irreconcilable.»

AFP journalists near the Hsinchu air force base, in the north of Taiwan, saw 12 fighter jets take off on Monday.

Outlying islands administered by Taipei were on «heightened alert» and «aircraft and ships will respond to enemy situations in accordance with the engagement rules», Taiwan's defence ministry said.

Beijing said its exercises served as a «stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan Independence' forces».

The drills, dubbed Joint Sword-2024B, are testing troops' «joint operations capabilities», according to Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command.

They are taking place in «areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island,» he said.

The drills are «focusing on subjects