China launches large-scale military drills around Taiwan after President Lai’s National Day speech

People's Liberation Army criticises separatist acts' and says all branches of the military were involved in exercises around Taiwan

China's military and coast guard have surrounded Taiwan's main island as part of large-scale drills that it said were a warning against separatist acts", in the wake of a recent speech by Taiwan's president.

State media linked Monday's drills to a National Day speech last Thursday by Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, in which he repeated that the People's Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan", but he was willing to work with it to maintain peace and stability.