China launches large military drills around Taiwan to issue 'severe warning'

China’s subject launched large-scale drills astir Taiwan Tuesday to nonstop a "severe warning" and a connection of "forceful containment against Taiwan independence," Beijing officials said. 

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it had tracked 19 Chinese navy vessels successful the waters surrounding the land successful a 24-hour play from 6 a.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. The exercises – which progressive Chinese navy, air, crushed and rocket forces – were unannounced. 

"China's blatant subject provocations not lone endanger bid successful the Taiwan Strait but besides undermine information successful the full region, arsenic evidenced by drills adjacent Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and the South China Sea," Taiwan's Presidential Office wrote connected X. "We powerfully condemn China's escalatory behavior." 

Taiwan defence officials added that they had been tracking the question of China's Shandong craft bearer since Saturday and that its bearer radical had entered into Taiwan's aerial defence recognition portion connected Monday. In response, Taiwan dispatched subject craft and ships and activated land-based rocket systems, according to Reuters. 

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China's Shandong craft bearer is seen successful this screenshot taken from a video titled "Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils", released by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army connected April 1, 2025.  (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters)

"I privation to accidental these actions amply bespeak (China's) demolition of determination bid and stability,"  Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said. 

China's Xinhua News Agency said the Eastern Theater Command connected Tuesday conducted "multi-subject drills successful waters to the north, southbound and eastbound of Taiwan Island." 

The theatre bid "organized its vas and craft formations, successful coordination with accepted rocket troops and long-range rocket launching systems, to behaviour drills of aerial interception, battle connected maritime targets, strikes connected crushed objects, and associated blockade and control," Xinhua quoted the bid arsenic saying. 

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A subject pitchy lands astatine Hsinchu Air Base successful Hsinchu, Taiwan, connected April 1. (Reuters/Annabelle Chih)

The exercises were "aimed astatine investigating the troops’ capabilities of carrying retired integrated operations, seizure of operational power and multi-directional precision strikes, the bid said. 

China's Taiwan Affairs Office besides said the exercises were directed astatine Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's powerfully pro-independence president. 

This representation released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense shows China’s Shandong craft bearer sailing adjacent Taiwan connected Monday, March 31.  (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense via AP)

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"Lai Ching-te stubbornly insists connected a ‘Taiwan independence’ stance, brazenly labeling the mainland arsenic a ‘foreign hostile force,’ and has enactment guardant a alleged "17-point strategy ... stirring up anti-China sentiments," China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said successful a statement. "We volition not tolerate oregon condone this successful immoderate mode and indispensable resolutely antagonistic and severely punish these actions." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.