Xi Jinping, the president of China, has threatened to reclaim Taiwan by force if necessary, claiming the self-governing island as its own.
Taiwan reported that on Monday, it saw 125 planes and 34 naval ships in formation surrounding the island.
Chinese state media released maps showing that its troops were spread out across the entire island. Later on Monday, it announced that the drills were successfully completed.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese military, said that all army branches participated in the exercises.
According to PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Senior Captain Li Xi, the exercises “fully tested the integrated joint operation capabilities” of the forces.
Taiwan’s ports and airports kept operating normally.
In a previous statement, the Taiwanese defense ministry denounced the Chinese action and stated that preventing direct confrontations that would intensify the standoff was its top aim. It also said that outlying islands were placed on high alert.
China’s foreign ministry reported that Taiwanese independence was “incompatible” with regional peace and acknowledged that it had simulated military attacks and port blockades.
Later, the Chinese coast guard posted on its Weibo account that the patrol’s path was shaped like a heart.
