The Taiwanese Defense Ministry warned today that the Chinese Armed Forces appear to be preparing for military exercises, following a recent visit by Taiwan's leader to the US territories of Hawaii and Guam.
The ministry said it had detected Chinese Navy and Coast Guard ships entering the Taiwan Strait and the western Pacific. China also restricted airspace along its southeast coast until Wednesday in provinces facing the island of Taiwan.
China argues that Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes the US commitment to defend the island and the sale of weapons to the Taiwanese army.
Taiwanese leader William Lai made stops in Hawaii and Guam last week during a tour of the Pacific that ended on Friday.
China opposes contact between island authorities and foreign government officials.
Taiwan's defense ministry also said it has created an emergency response center and launched combat readiness exercises in response to Chinese activity in the Taiwan Strait.
"It is important to emphasize that there is no Ministry of Defense in Taiwan," said Chinese diplomat spokeswoman Mao Ning, when asked about the statement.
"Taiwan is part of China and the Taiwan issue is China's internal matter. China will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he stressed.
China, which considers Lai a separatist, held major military exercises around Taiwan after his inauguration in May and his National Day speech in October. Beijing also carried out a major military exercise around the territory, following a visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, in 2022.
The statement from Taiwan's Defense Ministry said China has restricted airspace in seven zones off Fujian province, which faces Taiwan, and Zhejiang province, which stretches north from Fujian to Shanghai.
During a television interview, Trump was asked if he would commit to defending Taiwan.
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