Taiwan slams large-scale Chinese drills near island
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China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has stepped up military exercises near the island, in what Taipei views as intimidation to force it to accept Chinese rule.
Taiwan on Thursday slammed China over large-scale air and naval drills off its southwestern coast which it called a serious provocation and a threat to international air traffic.
It urged Beijing to rein in its armed forces.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has stepped up military exercises near the island, in what Taipei views as intimidation to force it to accept Chinese rule.
Yeh Kuo-hui, from Taiwan's defence ministry's operations and planning department, told a hastily-arranged news conference that China's intentions could not be predicted.
The drills took place in Taiwan's air defence identification zone, between mainland Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, the ministry said. Taiwan says China sent advanced Su-30 and J-10 fighters to participate.
Taiwan Deputy Defence Minister Chang Che-ping said the drills threatened regional stability and endangered international aviation.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the government had shared "information related to China's threat to key friendly nations", a likely reference to the United States, Taiwan's main arms supplier and most important international backer.
China has held numerous military exercises up and down its coast and near the island in recent weeks.
Taiwan has this week been carrying out live-fire weapons tests off its southeast and eastern coast.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has warned of a rising risk of accidental conflict, saying communication must be maintained to cut the risk of miscalculation.