(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Reuters
The White House on Thursday condemned China's decision to launch live missiles near Taiwan as 'irresponsible' and said it expected Beijing would continue to react in the coming days to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
'Beijing's provocative actions are significant escalation and its long-standing attempt to change the status quo,' national security spokesperson John Kirby told a briefing.
China on Thursday deployed scores of planes and fired live missiles near Taiwan in its biggest-ever drills in the Taiwan Strait, a day after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a solidarity trip to the self-ruled island.
China's military confirmed multiple firings of conventional missiles in waters off Taiwan as part of planned exercises in six zones set to run until noon on Sunday. It activated more than 100 planes, including fighter jets and bombers, and over 10 warships, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Taiwan's defence ministry said it scrambled jets to warn away 22 Chinese fighter aircraft that crossed the Taiwan Strait median line into its air defence zone, while Japan protested that five missiles appeared to land in its economic zone.
'The U.S.-Taiwan collusion and provocation will only push Taiwan towards the abyss of disaster, bringing catastrophe to Taiwan compatriots,' said a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson.
Responding to the Chinese drills, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would not provoke conflicts but would firmly defend its sovereignty and national security.
'Taiwan will never be knocked down by challenges,' Tsai said in a recorded video message to the people of Taiwan.
'We are calm and not impetuous, we are rational and not provocative, but we will also be firm and not shirk.'
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