China starts 'punishment' drills around Taiwan days after new president takes office

TAIPEI/BEIJING — Taiwan's military mobilised its forces and said it was confident it could protect the island, after China started two days of "punishment" drills around Taiwan on May 23 in what it said was a response to "separatist acts".

The exercises, in the Taiwan Strait and around groups of Taiwan-controlled islands that sit next to the Chinese coast, come just three days after Lai Ching-te took office as Taiwan's new president, a man Beijing detests as a "separatist".

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has denounced Taiwan President Lai's inauguration speech on May 20 in which he called on China to stop its threats. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week called Lai "disgraceful".

Lai has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had started joint military drills, involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, in areas around Taiwan at 7.45am.

The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the Taiwan-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, the command said in a statement.

Taiwan's defence ministry condemned the drills, saying that it had dispatched forces to areas around the island and was confident it could protect its territory.

"The launch of military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, it also highlights (China's) militaristic mentality," the ministry said.

A senior Taiwan official, speaking anonymously given the