China holds large military exercises surrounding Taiwan, outlying islands
Author of the article:
Article content
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China was holding large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday.
China’s Defence 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.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
China holds large military exercises surrounding Taiwan, outlying islands Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Taiwan’s Defence 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.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.