STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOSSHANGHAI/TAIPEI -China's military began drills around Taiwan on Saturday, saying it was a"serious warning" to separatist forces in an angry and widely expected response to a visit by Vice President William Lai to the United States, drawing condemnation from Taipei.
The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command, which has responsibility for the area around Taiwan, said in a brief statement it was carrying out joint naval and air combat readiness patrols around the island. Taiwan's defence ministry strongly condemned the drills, saying it will dispatch appropriate forces to respond and has the ability, determination, and confidence to ensure national security.
The April drills, after President Tsai Ing-wen met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on a stopover in California, were smaller but involved full combat exercises by China's two aircraft carriers, some off the island's Pacific coast. Shortly before the military's announcement, the Taiwan Work Office of China's ruling Communist Party said Lai was"shamelessly" trying to"rely on the United States to seek independence".
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