China defends military drills near Taiwan after it condemns 'serious provocation'

China has defended its military drills nearTaiwan's southwest coast last week by saying they werea "necessary action" to protect the country's sovereignty, afterTaiwancomplained the large-scale air and naval exerciseswerea serious provocation.

China, which claims democraticTaiwanas its own, has stepped upmilitaryactivitiesnearthe island, in whatTaiwanviews as intimidation to force it to accept Chinese rule.

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Taiwan's denounced the two days of exercises last week, which it said took place inTaiwan's air defence identification zone, between mainlandTaiwanand theTaiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.TaiwansaysChinasent advanced Su-30 and J-10 fighters to participate.

OfferingChina's first public explanation for the exercises, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman forChina'sTaiwanAffairs Office, saidTaiwanwas a "sacred" and inseparable part ofChina.

Also see:In pictures: Taiwan-China relations since 1949

"The relevant combat training activities by the People's Liberation Armywerea necessary action aimed at the current security situation in theTaiwanStrait and to safeguard national sovereignty," Ma told a news conference.

In an apparent reference to the United States,Taiwan's main arms supplier and strongest international supporter, Ma said thedrillswerealso aimed at "the interference of foreign forces" andTaiwanindependence activities, notTaiwan's people.

Taiwan's government was allowing anti-China, Western forces to "play theTaiwancard" and become a pawn in stoppingChina's development, stirring up enmity between the two sides of the strait and seekingTaiwan's independence, Ma said.

"They continue to provoke and are threat-makers and trouble-makers," he said.

TaiwanPresident Tsai Ing-wen, who has warned of the risk of accidental conflict because of the increasingmilitaryactivities,saysthe island is already an independent country called the Republic ofChina,Taiwan's formal name.

The Pentagon also expressed concern aboutChina'sdrillslast week. The United States has been carrying out its own military activity nearTaiwan, including regular warship sailings through theTaiwanStrait.