TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China was holding large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday.
China’s Defense Ministry said the drills were a response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s refusal to concede to Beijing’s demands that Taiwan acknowledge itself as a part of the People’s Republic of China under the rule of the Communist Party.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry called the drills a provocation and said its forces were prepared to respond.
Lai took office in May, continuing the eight-year rule of the Democratic Progressive Party that rejects China’s demand that it recognize Taiwan is a part of China. China routinely states that Taiwan independence is a “dead end” and that annexation by Beijing is a historical inevitability.
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Lai appeared to address such issues in his address, saying: “We must strengthen resilience throughout Taiwan in national defense, economic livelihoods, disaster prevention and democracy.”
