Taiwan has strongly condemned China's recent military exercises near its southwest coast, following Beijing's designation of an area for shooting drills. China's increased military activity around Taiwan has raised tensions, with Taiwan's Foreign Ministry labeling China as the biggest threat to regional peace and stability. Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported detecting 45 aircraft, 14 navy vessels, and one ship from the Chinese military operating around Taiwan, with 34 crossing into Taiwanese waters and airspace. Taiwan responded to these activities, although specific details were not provided.
Earlier this week, Taiwan encountered four Chinese coast guard boats in its waters near Kinmen island and deployed its own boats to remove them. China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported that a senior Chinese official called for efforts towards the 'reunification of the motherland' during an annual meeting about Taiwan. Taiwan also recently apprehended a Chinese-owned vessel for severing an undersea cable, leading to accusations from Beijing of Taiwan exaggerating the situation for political purposes.
