Lakhasly

An earlier statement from the Taiwanese defence ministry condemned the Chinese move and said its priority was to avoid direct clashes which could escalate the stand-off further.Taiwan's airports and ports continued functioning as normal.Outlying islands were put on high alert, it added.

China on Monday launched new military drills off the coast of Taiwan in what it described as "punishment" for a speech given by its president William Lai, when he vowed to "resist annexation" or "encroachment upon our sovereignty".

China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as its own and its president Xi Jinping has vowed to retake it by force if necessary.

Taiwan said it detected 34 naval vessels and 125 aircraft in formation around the island on Monday.

Maps published by Chinese state media indicated its forces were positioned around the whole island. It said later on Monday that the drills had been successfully concluded.
The Chinese military, known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said the drills involved all wings of the army and were designed to simulate attacking Taiwan by land, sea and air.

Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command said the drills "fully tested the integrated joint operation capabilities" of its troops.

Taiwan's airports and ports continued functioning as normal.

An earlier statement from the Taiwanese defence ministry condemned the Chinese move and said its priority was to avoid direct clashes which could escalate the stand-off further. Outlying islands were put on high alert, it added.

China's foreign ministry confirmed it had simulated military assaults and port blockades, and described Taiwanese independence as being "incompatible" with peace in the region.

A post by the Chinese coast guard on its Weibo account later noted that the route of the patrol was in the shape of a heart.