Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen slammed on Tuesday the “irresponsible” Chinese military drills around the island.
China's military exercises have caused instability in Taiwan and the region and are irresponsible acts for a major country, Taiwan's President wrote on Facebook after Beijing ended three days of drills around the island.
“There are 8 vessels still operating in the waters surrounding Taiwan,” the defense ministry said in a statement, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation.
China began the exercises on Saturday after Tsai returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
China had warned the US not to allow Tsai to visit or meet McCarthy.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under Beijing's control. Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's claims.
Writing on her Facebook page shortly before midnight on Monday, Tsai said that as president, "I represent my county to the world", and that her visits abroad, including stops in the United States, are not new and what Taiwan's people expect.
"However, China used this to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region. This is not a responsible attitude for a major country in the region," she said.
China simulated precision attacks and blockades of Taiwan during the drills, sending up dozens of fighter jets and bombers.
Taiwan's defense ministry said that on Monday, 91 Chinese military aircraft flew in missions around the island.
Taiwan's official Central News Agency said that was a record, though the defense ministry said it could not verify whether that was the case.
Tsai said Taiwan's armed forces and coast guard reacted calmly and professionally to China's exercises, and she thanked everyone involved.
