Taiwan calls Chinese military drills a threat to region

In this April 13, 2018 file photo, A Taiwan Navy's Knox-class frigate fires chaff during a navy exercise in the bound of Suao naval station in Yilan County, northeast of Taiwan.

In this April 13, 2018 file photo, A Taiwan Navy's Knox-class frigate fires chaff during a navy exercise in the bound of Suao naval station in Yilan County, northeast of Taiwan.   | Photo Credit: AP

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and says the sides, which separated during the Chinese civil war in 1949, must eventually be united, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s government says recent Chinese military drills aim to intimidate the island and are a threat to regional peace and stability.

The Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement issued on Thursday that there would be no giving in or making of concessions to Beijing and said the situation was being closely monitored.

China held live-fire exercises off its southeast coast on Wednesday involving an air unit of the People’s Liberation Army. The PLA said the exercise involved the coordination of various types of armed helicopters that detected targets on the water and attacked them.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and says the sides, which separated during the Chinese civil war in 1949, must eventually be united, by force if necessary.