China Launches Three-Day Military Exercise in Taiwan Strait as “Stern Warning” to Self-Ruled Island’s Government

China has launched a three-day military exercise around Taiwan on Saturday, in what it calls a “stern warning” to the self-ruled island’s government. The exercises, dubbed “United Sharp Sword”, will take place in the maritime areas and air space of the Taiwan Strait, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island’s east, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command.

The drills are being conducted in response to a meeting between Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei last week. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said the exercises are “a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces’ collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The exercises will feature “combat ready patrols and exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait, and to the north, south and east of Taiwan and the sea and airspace as planned,” according to Colonel Shi. He added that the drills are “a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The US has long been a major supporter of Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. The US has recently increased its support for Taiwan, including selling arms to the island. China has responded by increasing its military presence in the region, including sending warplanes and warships to the area.

The United Sharp Sword exercises come amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, and are seen as a warning to the island’s government. The drills are expected to conclude on Monday.