Taiwan condemns China military drills as 'irrational provocations' | BBC News

Taiwan's defence ministry has condemned China'smilitary exercises around the self-ruled island as "irrational provocations".

The drills come just three days after the inaugurationof Taiwanese president William Lai, whom Beijing haslabelled as a "separatist" and a "troublemaker".

Beijing, which has long claimed Taiwan, is performingthe drills all around the main island, and theTaipei-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wugiu and Dongyin.

A spokesperson for the Chinese People's LiberationArmy (PLA) has called them a "strong punishment" for"separatist acts".