China has sent a terrifying warning to Taiwan by launching three day military drills rehearsing the encirclement of the region.
Task forces 'will simultaneously organise patrols and advances around Taiwan island, shaping an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture,' according to state media.
Long-range rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuellers are all being tested by China's military.
It comes hours after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, with Beijing describing it as a 'stern warning' to the self-ruled government.
The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said 42 Chinese military planes and eight ships crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
Dubbed 'United Sharp Sword', the three-day operation will run until Monday, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) said in a statement.
'These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external forces and against their provocative activities,' the PLA's Shi said.
'The operations are necessary for safeguarding China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.'
President Tsai Ing-wen Tsai immediately denounced the drills, pledging to work with 'the US and other like-minded countries' in the face of 'continued authoritarian expansionism'.
Taiwan's defence ministry also expressed 'solemn condemnation of such irrational actions'.
The ministry also claimed that China was using Tsai's US visit as an 'excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region'.
Hours before McCarthy's meeting on Wednesday, China sent its Shandong aircraft carrier through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific.
Beijing said that 'Taiwan is an inseparable part of China', after repeatedly warning against the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.
Beijing said that 'Taiwan is an inseparable part of China', after repeatedly warning against the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.
'China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.
'The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland.'
Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping also added that the exercises were intended to demonstrate that the Chinese army will be ready if 'provocation intensifies' to 'solve the Taiwan issue once and for all'.
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