China stages drills near Taiwan in warning to 'separatist forces'

China's military dispatched air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around the island of Taiwan on Monday, a move Beijing called a "stern warning" to separatist and "external interference" forces.

The drills come after Beijing expressed anger at US arms sales to the territory and a statement by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who said its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan.

However, the Chinese military did not directly mention either the US or Japan in its statement on Monday morning.

"The Chinese Communist Party's targeted military exercises further confirm its nature as an aggressor and the biggest destroyer of peace," the ministry said.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command, said the drills would be conducted in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of the island.

Shi said the activities will focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, "joint seizure of comprehensive superiority" and blockades on key ports.

It was also the first large-scale military drill in which the command publicly stated that one of its goals was "all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain."

"It is a stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity," Shi said.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said in a post on X that rapid response exercises were under way, with forces on high alert to defend the island in case of escalation.

In a separate statement, it said it had deployed the appropriate forces in response and ordered combat readiness drills.

Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwanese president's office, said the operation was undermining the stability and security of the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region and openly challenging international law and order.

"Our country strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for disregarding international norms and using military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries," she said.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.

Defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, and the island has operated since then with its own government. However, Beijing claims it as sovereign territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

China deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and drones on Monday, alongside long-range rockets, to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait.

It also conducted live-fire exercises against targets at sea. Drills to test the capabilities of sea-air coordination and precise target hunting were also performed in the sea and airspace to the east of the strait.

It said major military drills were scheduled between 8 am and 6 pm on Tuesday, adding that it would organise live-fire activities then and that its exercises would cover five areas around the island.

The command released themed posters about the drills online. One poster featured two shields depicting the Great Wall, alongside three military aircraft and two ships.

Its social media post said the drills were about the "Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion," adding that any foreign forces or separatists touching the shields would be eliminated.

Last week, Beijing imposed sanctions against 20 US defence-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced a large-scale arms sale package to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion (€8.5 billion).

If approved by US Congress, it would be the largest-ever American weapons package to the self-ruled territory.

Under US federal law in place for many years, Washington is obligated to assist Taipei with its defence, a point that has become increasingly contentious with China.

The US and Taiwan had formal diplomatic relations until 1979, when US President Jimmy Carter’s administration recognised and established relations with Beijing.

Beijing sends warplanes and naval vessels toward the island on a near-daily basis and, in recent years, has increased the scope and scale of these exercises.

In October, the Taiwanese government said it would accelerate the development of a "Taiwan Shield" or "T-Dome" air defence system amid a military threat from China.

The military tensions come a day after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he hoped the Taiwan Strait would be associated with peace and prosperity, instead of "crashing waves and howling winds," during a trip to Shanghai.