China organizes new military exercises around Taiwan before a new US visit

China

has announced that it has organized new military exercises around

, where five US parliamentarians are currently visiting.

Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater of Operations Command, said the PLA will take necessary measures to

. "

The exercises consist of a multi-service joint combat readiness patrol and an actual combat drill in the sea and airspace around the island of

two-day visit by the five U.S. lawmakers

comes after

has conducted military exercises involving ships, missiles and fighter jets in the waters and skies around

, a self-governing island that

claims as its own .

.

"This is a solemn deterrent against the United States and

for continuing to play political tricks and undermining peace and stability across the

Strait ," Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement, promising "resolutely defend national sovereignty".

The five-member delegation, led by Senator

of Massachusetts, was scheduled to meet with President

and attend a banquet at the Foreign Office.

His visit will focus on trade, regional security and climate change, Washington's de facto embassy in Taipei said.

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry hailed the visit as a new sign of friendship between Taipei and Washington, "which

."

The Taiwanese government accuses

of using Pelosi's visit as an excuse to launch exercises that would allow it to rehearse an invasion.

China's Communist Party has never ruled

but says it will use force if necessary to retake the island.

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