‘Stern warning’: China starts new war games around Taiwan

A senior Taiwanese official says it’s believed China is practising a blockade of ports and shipping

China’s military started a new round of war games near Taiwan on Monday, saying it was a warning to the “separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces”.
Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, had been on alert for more war games since last week’s national day speech by President Lai Ching-te, an address Beijing condemned after Mr Lai said China had no right to represent Taiwan even as he offered to cooperate with Beijing.
A senior Taiwan security official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said they believed China was practicing blockading Taiwanese ports and international shipping lanes as well as repelling the arrival of foreign forces.
A map from Chinese state media indicates the drills have encircled the island.
The US government condemned the move as “unwarranted and risks escalation” as it called on Beijing to act with restraint.
“The United States is seriously concerned by the People’s Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, referring to China’s military, in a statement.
The Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command in a 5am statement said the “Joint Sword-2024B” drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan, Reuters reported. 
“The drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity,” it said in a statement carried both in Chinese and English.
The Chinese military said a carrier formation was operating to the east of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s defence ministry expressed its strong condemnation of China’s “irrational and provocative act”, adding it had dispatched its own forces.
Mr Lai’s national day speech highlighted the current state of cross-strait relations and the firm will to safeguard peace and stability and advocated future cooperation in coping with challenges like climate change, the ministry added.
“The Chinese communist’s claim of ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’ is a complete departure from the truth,” it added.
China’s held the “Joint Sword-2024A” drills for two days around Taiwan in May shortly after Mr Lai took office, saying they were “punishment” for separatist content in his inauguration speech.
Mr Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Taiwan’s coast guard said on Monday it had detained a Chinese person on one of its outlying islands after a possible “intrusion” coinciding with China’s military drills.
“It is not ruled out that the small boat stowaway attempt could be a grey zone intrusion linked to the military exercise,” the coast guard said in a statement, referring to tactics which fall short of a direct act of war.