BEIJING - China's military on Monday announced new military exercises on land and at sea around Taiwan, a day after its largest-ever exercises, launched in protest of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei last week, were scheduled to end.

The Eastern Command said it would hold joint exercises focused on countering submarine and naval attacks, underlining concerns of some security analysts and diplomats that Beijing will continue to pressure Taiwan's defenses.

Pelosi's visit last week infuriated China, which considers the self-governing island a province, and responded by launching test ballistic missiles over Taipei for the first time, in addition to abandoning some channels of dialogue with Washington.

China's Defense Ministry today defended the suspension of military talks with the United States in protest of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week, and said Washington should bear "serious consequences."

It is not yet known the exact duration or location of the new exercises, but Taiwan has already eased flight restrictions near the six exercise areas that China recently conducted around the island.

Shortly before the new exercises were announced, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who is currently visiting the country, and told him that she was moved by his determination to come despite Chinese military pressure.

"Prime Minister Gonsalves made it clear in recent days that China's military exercises will not prevent him from visiting friends in Taiwan...These statements deeply affected us," Tsai said at a party to welcome the Prime Minister of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Taipei.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Chinese military ships, planes and drones simulated attacks on the island and its navy, saying it had sent planes and ships to respond "appropriately".


Taiwanese maneuvers

Besides launching 11 short-range ballistic missiles during exercises over the past four days, Chinese warships, fighters and drones have also participated in extensive maneuvers around Taiwan.

Shortly before the end of those exercises yesterday, about 10 warships from each of China and Taiwan conducted exercises in close places around the separation line in the Taiwan Strait, according to a source familiar with the situation involved in security planning.

For its part, Taiwan plans to hold military exercises using live ammunition in the southern part of the island to "test combat readiness," according to local media.

Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) said the army will conduct live-fire exercises in Pingtung County tomorrow and Thursday.

"CNA" added that the army will fire during the expected maneuvers 78 rounds of a 155 mm howitzer and 6 mortars of 120 mm caliber.

The agency indicated that the army also plans to hold annual maneuvers on the fifth of next September.

Meanwhile, China's Defense Ministry continued its diplomatic pressure on the United States, defending its suspension of military talks with Washington in protest of Pelosi's visit.

"It was the US side that caused the current tense situation in the Taiwan Strait on its own initiative, and it should bear full responsibility and the serious consequences," Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in an online post.

China canceled official talks involving field commands, defense policy coordination and naval-military consultations on Friday, while Pelosi left the region.

Pentagon, State Department and White House officials condemned the move, describing it as an exaggerated and irresponsible reaction.