The Chinese military announced new exercises Wednesday in sensitive waters near Taiwan, in a second consecutive day of drills around the self-ruled island it claims as its own.
The surprise manoeuvres were slammed by Washington as "intimidation tactics" and come after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called China a "foreign hostile force".
Named "Strait Thunder-2025A", the drills are located in the middle and southern parts of the strait, the military said, which is a vital artery for global shipping.
Wednesday's exercises aim to "test the troops' capabilities" in areas such as "blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets", Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.
Taiwan's defence ministry confirmed China's military exercises were ongoing but did not elaborate.
Taiwan is a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which is the island's most important security partner.
The US State Department said Beijing's "aggressive" military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan "only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region's security and the world's prosperity at risk".
Chinese leaders vigorously oppose Washington's support for Taiwan and detest Lai, who they call a "separatist".
Drills in the strait come a day after China sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for exercises Beijing said were aimed at practising for "precision strikes" and a blockade of the island.
That prompted Taipei to dispatch its own forces as part of a "Rapid Response Exercise".
With AFP
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