China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island’s key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing’s “military intimidation”.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military action to seize the island democracy.
The latest show of force follows a bumper round of US arms sales to Taipei, Taiwan’s main security backer.
Beijing warned on Monday that “external forces” arming Taipei would “push the Taiwan Strait into a perilous situation of imminent war”, but did not mention any countries by name.
Any attempts to stop China’s unification with Taiwan were “doomed to fail”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
Taiwan condemned China’s “disregard for international norms and the use of military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries”, presidential office spokeperson Karen Kuo said.
Taipei also said on Monday it had detected four Chinese coastguard ships sailing off its northern and eastern coasts.
Its coastguard said it “immediately deployed large vessels to pre-position responses in relevant areas” and “sent additional support units”.
Taiwan’s military said it had established a response centre, deployed “appropriate forces” and “carried out a rapid response exercise”.
A Chinese military spokesperson said the drills were “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces, and… a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity”.
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