Taiwan FM says China using drills to 'prepare for invasion'

Taiwan's foreign minister said Tuesday that Beijing is using air and sea drills encircling the island to prepare for an invasion and to change the status quo in the Asia-Pacific region.

China launched its largest-ever war games around Taiwan last week in a furious response to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking American official to visit the self-ruled island in decades.

"China has used the drills and its military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan," Joseph Wu told a press conference in Taipei.

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"It is conducting large-scale military exercises and missile launches, as well as cyber-attacks, a disinformation campaign and economic coercion in order to weaken public morale in Taiwan."

Taipei's top diplomat reiterated its condemnation of the drills Beijing continued Monday despite initially saying they would end a day earlier, noting they had hindered one of the busiest shipping and air routes in the world.

Wu's press conference came after the Taiwanese military held its own live-fire drill to simulate defending against an attack on the island.

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He called Beijing's war games a "gross violation of Taiwan's rights" and an attempt to take control of the waters around Taiwan and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

"China's real intention is to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and entire region," he said.

Wu went on to thank Western allies for standing up to China.

"It also sends a clear message to the world that democracy will not bow to the intimidation of authoritarianism," he said.