China is putting regional security at risk by holding military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the United States warned Tuesday, as China announced new drills in the politically sensitive waters.
China'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," the US State Department said in a statement.
What are Chinese drills in the Taiwan Straight?
The statement from Washington came as China's military began a second day of major drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Wednesday.
The military exercise under the code name Strait Thunder-2025A is taking place in the southern and central Taiwan Strait, which is a vital artery for global shipping.
China says the drills are focused on honing the ability to blockade the island and make precision strikes.
It said on Wednesday its military held "long-range live-fire drills," according to several news, and that it carried out "simulated strikes" on key ports and energy sites.
More than 10 Chinese warships were in Taiwan's "response zone" on Wednesday morning, according to a senior Taiwan security official, Reuters reported.
The official was referring to Taiwan's air defense identification zone, a self-defined area tracked by the military.
In the past 24 hours, 76 Chinese military aircraft and 15 warships have been counted, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said.
The drills come just two weeks after a large-scale exercise in mid-March, when China sent a large number of drones and ships toward the island.
What are the tensions between Taiwan and China?
Taiwan has denounced China for holding the latest drills.
The island of some 23 million people is just 130 kilometers (80 miles) from China across the Taiwan Strait.
The military exercises follow a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who China called a "parasite" on Tuesday.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary.
It has repeatedly denounced Lai as a "separatist".
Lai rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
