The extensive exercises aimed to test the military's ability to exercise "blockade and control" as well as "precision attacks on key targets", according to a statement from China's military.
On Tuesday, China conducted large-scale military exercises near Taiwan, involving a large number of ships and aircraft. The whole thing is to be interpreted as a "sharp warning" to Taiwan, according to the Chinese military's spokesperson Shi Yi.
According to Taiwan's defense department, China's military had surrounded the island with 27 aircraft, 21 warships, and 10 coastguard vessels on Wednesday.
As long as Taiwan's provocation of independence continues, the punishment for independence will not stop, says China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Joakun.
The government in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China, but in practice, Taiwan has been self-governing and separate since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when rival governments took over in Beijing and Taipei respectively.
"Once again, China's aggressive military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan only serve to exacerbate tensions and put regional security and global prosperity at risk", responds Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Department of State, in a statement about the exercises. The exercises have also been condemned by Taiwan.
China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan in recent years and conducts almost daily military flights perceived as provocations.
