President Lai Ching Te is directing a response to Chinese military drills
around Taiwan that began this morning.

He also called the drills a part of Beijing's "gray zone" tactics, saying
that China is obviously the troublemaker endangering peace and stability in
the Taiwan Strait.

According to Chinese spokespeople, the joint drills involve navy, air,
ground, and rocket forces.

They emphasize that the drills represent a "severe warning and forceful
containment against Taiwan independence."

This comes just two weeks after earlier exercises in which Beijing sent a
large number of ships and drones towards the country.

The Ministry of National Defense says, it detected 19 Chinese navy vessels in
surrounding waters in the 24 hours from 6am yesterday to today.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo emphasized that "these actions amply reflect
[China's] destruction of regional peace and stability."

The MND said on social media that they strongly condemned these "irrational
provocations."

Chinese spokespeople did not indicate how long the drills would last, but
they did add that the coast guard would be conducting a "law enforcement
patrol" today.

(AH-AP)