The Chinese armed forces started joint exercises around Taiwan early this morning, Xinhua reported, quoted by BTA.
The maneuvers involving the army, navy, air force and missile forces began just days after Taiwan's new president, Jimmy Lai, took office and called on Beijing to end its threats, Reuters noted.
The exercise focuses on joint patrols with maritime and air combat readiness, precision strikes on key targets and integrated operations within and beyond the island chain to test "joint real combat capabilities" of forces, the Chinese military said.
"This is both a strong punishment for the separatist actions of the Taiwan Independence Forces and a strict warning against interference and provocations by outside forces," the message also said.
Taiwan has been autonomous since 1949, when Nationalists fled to the island after their defeat by Communist forces in the Chinese mainland civil war.
Beijing considers the democratically governed island part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to bring it under its control, notes AFP
Taiwan has sent its forces and will defend its sovereignty, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said today, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Taiwan has "the ability, determination and confidence to guarantee national security" and condemns China's exercises, which only "underline its militaristic mentality," the ministry added.