Taiwan downplays threat as China holds live-fire drills around island

China is holding live-fire drills successful the Taiwan Strait successful an escalation of subject enactment conscionable a week aft Beijing held a record-setting air-and-sea drills astir the island.

China's Maritime Safety Administration warned boats to debar venturing into the country astir Niushan land successful Fujian state for 4 hours starting from 9am (local time) connected Tuesday. Niushan land is the closest constituent between mainland China and Taiwan and sits southbound of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands.

Taiwan downplayed the drills, saying Beijing's exercises were portion of regular Chinese grooming and that it was keeping a adjacent watch. "It cannot beryllium ruled retired that it is 1 of the ways to grow the deterrent effect successful enactment with the dynamics successful the Taiwan Strait," the self-governed island's defence ministry said successful a statement.

“No substance the standard of the exercises, determination should not beryllium specified meaningless shows often oregon adjacent to Taiwan," Taiwan’s premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters successful Taipei.

“This volition lone origin abrupt and unnecessary tension," helium said, adding that the Taiwanese subject was prepared and that thing "unexpected volition happen".

Tuesday's drills were launched conscionable a week aft China flew a grounds fig of subject craft toward Taiwan during what was described arsenic practicing the "sealing disconnected of cardinal ports and cardinal areas". The subject workout was a punishment for Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te rejecting Beijing's claims of sovereignty, according to reports.

Taiwan counted a grounds one-day full of 153 aircraft, 14 navy vessels, and 12 Chinese authorities ships.

China regards self-governed Taiwan arsenic portion of its territory and routinely conducts exercises astir the island. While a full-scale penetration of Taiwan is unlikely, China has not ruled retired the usage of unit to bring the land nether its control.

The US – the biggest unofficial state of Taiwan – responded by continuing to big what it calls "freedom of navigation" transits done the Taiwan Strait.

On Sunday, the destroyer USS Higgins and the Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver transited the constrictive set of water that separates China and Taiwan. China condemned the maneuver, saying it undermined bid and stableness successful the region.

Germany sent 2 warships done the Taiwan Strait past period arsenic it sought to summation its defence engagement successful the Asia-Pacific region.

China views the Taiwan president who took bureau successful May arsenic a "separatist" and has rebuffed his calls for talks. Mr Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying lone Taiwan's radical tin determine their future.

Last week Chinese president Xi Jinping made a uncommon sojourn to the Fujian state facing Taiwan aft the Chinese service launched grounds craft toward the island.