The People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) has begun large-scale live-fire military exercises in six areas around Taiwan. It is reported by CGTN.
They began on August 4 at 12:00 local time, the day after the visit to the island of the head of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. The exercises will last until August 7.
The PLA said they were practicing "naval blockade and air interception." The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, condemned China's actions, in response, Beijing said that it would not tolerate undermining the "one-China policy."
"The holding of Chinese military exercises near Chinese Taiwan is a necessary and fair measure to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the provocative steps of some US politicians and pro-Taiwan independence forces," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said.
For the duration of the exercise, China has restricted flights to Taiwan, suspended supplies of sand to the island, and banned some imports of Taiwanese products. Among it are tea, dried fruits, honey, cocoa beans and vegetables. In addition, Ma Xiaoguang, official representative of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, promised Taiwan "an accelerated collapse and a great catastrophe," warning that the PRC would defend its territorial integrity.