Four Chinese coast guard ships have entered territorial waters on two Taiwanese islands today, supported by two other ships in the vicinity, authorities in Taipei said, quoted by AFP, on the second day of maneuvers by Beijing's forces near Taiwan, BTA reports.
"For the eighth time this month, Chinese coast guard vessels have entered territorial waters," the Taiwanese coast guard said, adding that the vessels left around 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT). .
"We call on China to exercise restraint and immediately end its irrational behavior," the Taipei force added.
Earlier Reuters reported that China is starting the second day of its large-scale military maneuvers off the coast of Taiwan. Military exercises aim to test the ability to "seize power" and control of key areas, according to a statement from China's People's Liberation Army Eastern Command.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense warned today that with each new Taiwanese "provocation" in support of independence, the "countermeasures" of Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the island, will go "further".
"Every time (the movement supporting - note AFP) "Taiwan independence" provokes us, we will go one step further with our countermeasures until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved," Wu Qian, a ministry spokesman, said in a statement. "Since taking office (on Monday, note AFP), the leader of the Taiwan region has seriously questioned the principle of one China, propagated the "two-state theory", tried to "use force to achieve independence" and "rely on foreign countries to achieve independence," which pushes our compatriots in Taiwan to a dangerous situation of war and threat," the spokesman added.
According to local media, the destabilization of the situation and the increase in tension in the Taiwan Strait were provoked by the speech of the new head of the Taiwanese administration, William Lai, delivered at his inauguration ceremony on May 20, TASS notes. Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when remnants of Nationalist Party forces led by Chiang Kai-shek fled there after being defeated in the Chinese Civil War. Beijing considers the island one of its provinces.