On Monday, China conducted new military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan in response to a visit it described as "provocative" by a US parliamentary delegation to the island, which China considers part of its territory, while the Taiwanese president accused Beijing of undermining regional stability and peace.
The Chinese military said that it held maneuvers near Taiwan today to form what it described as a serious deterrent to Washington and Taipei, "which continue to play political tricks and undermine peace and stability" across the Taiwan Strait.
The Eastern Command of the Chinese army said that the People's Liberation Army organized live-fire combat maneuvers in the sea and airspace around Taiwan.
In the same context, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said that its forces continue to train and prepare for war, resolutely defend national sovereignty, and crush any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts.
The ministry has warned the United States and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei that using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure.
The new exercises come days after the end of Chinese exercises described as the largest on Taiwan, which Beijing said were in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
On the other hand, the Taiwan Defense Ministry condemned on Monday the Chinese maneuvers, accusing the Chinese army of endangering security and peace in the region.
Today, the ministry said that its forces monitored 30 Chinese planes and 5 ships operating around the strait, adding that 15 of those planes crossed the middle line, which is an unofficial border demarcation line that Beijing does not recognize.
Amid the recent tensions, Taiwanese forces also conducted maneuvers, and Taipei authorities confirmed that the island was ready to repel a possible Chinese attack.
undermining stability
Meanwhile, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen described China's military exercises near the island as seriously undermining regional stability and peace.
Tsai reiterated her country's commitment to maintaining the stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Today, the Taiwanese president met a delegation that includes Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress, and the delegation is the second high-level US group to visit the island, amid ongoing military tensions with China.
Tsai told the delegation, which is on a two-day visit to the island, that she is willing to maintain the stability of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
Senator Ed Markey, who leads the congressional delegation, said his country has a moral obligation and will do everything in its power to prevent unnecessary conflict, adding that Taiwan has shown commitment and appreciation in difficult times.
On the other hand, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, called on the United States to stop going in the wrong direction, in response to the US delegation's visit to Taipei.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington also said that members of Congress must act in line with the one-China policy pursued by the US government.
Beijing does not recognize the independence of Taiwan, considers it part of Chinese territory, and rejects any attempts to separate from it. In return, Taiwan does not recognize the central government of Beijing.