Taiwan, in response to China's military exercises, has taken off its aircraft and put its troops on alert, according to the Associated Press News.
According to the Chinese military, the two-day exercise around Taiwan is a punishment for "separatist forces seeking independence".
As noted by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, Beijing's provocations jeopardize regional peace and stability. The ministry also added that Taiwan will seek no conflicts but “will not shy away from one.”
“This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
During his inaugural speech, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stated that his country seeks dialogue with China to maintain the current status and prevent allies from being dragged into war.
Moreover, China's actions were also condemned by the opposition Nationalist Party, which is considered pro-China.
The situation around China and Taiwan
Beijing considers Taiwan a separatist province and seeks to reunify it with the mainland, asserting the concept of inevitable reunification. However, Taiwan declares its independence.
According to the Director of National Intelligence of the United States, Avril Haines, China is preparing for a potential military takeover of Taiwan but still prefers to avoid such a scenario.
Meanwhile, Chinese military forces have commenced two-day punitive exercises around Taiwan.