Taiwan condemns China drills as 'irrational provocations'

Taiwan's defence ministry has condemned China's military exercises around the self-ruled island as "irrational provocations," Report informs referring to BBC.

The drills come just three days after the inauguration of Taiwanese president William Lai, whom Beijing has labelled as a "separatist" and a "troublemaker".

They are happening all around the main island, and the Taipei-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

A spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has called them a "strong punishment" for "separatist acts".

Taipei has dispatched naval, air, and ground forces to "defend the [island's] sovereignty", its defence ministry added.

China's military said its drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, precision strikes on key targets, and integrated operations inside and outside the island to test the "joint real combat capabilities" of its forces.