China's military on Wednesday said it had completed two days of exercises that included "live-fire" drills and simulated strikes on key ports and energy sites aimed at Taiwan, the self-ruled island it claims as its own.
The surprise manoeuvres were condemned by Taiwan, while the United States criticised it as "intimidation tactics". They came less than a month after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called China a "foreign hostile force".
Named "Strait Thunder-2025A", the drills were in the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait as well as the East China Sea, the military said.
By Wednesday evening, a People's Liberation Army spokesman Shi Yi said "the Eastern Theater Command has completed all designated tasks of the joint exercises carried out from April 1 to 2".
Earlier, he said that Wednesday's exercises were meant to "test the troops' capabilities" in areas such as "blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets".
The military also said it had held "long-range live-fire drills" and practised hitting "simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities".
AFP journalists saw fighter jets circling over the island Pingtan, the closest point on the mainland to Taiwan and where there is a military base. China's Shandong aircraft carrier was also carrying out drills testing the ability to "blockade" Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command said.
Beijing's foreign ministry warned Wednesday the "punishment will not stop" until Taiwan's leaders stop pushing for what it says is independence from China.
The democratic island of 23 million people is a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which is Taiwan's most important security partner.
The US State Department said Beijing's "aggressive" military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan "only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region's security and the world's prosperity at risk".
Chinese leaders oppose Washington's support for Taiwan and detest Lai, who they call a "separatist".
Wednesday's drills in the strait came a day after China sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan, prompting Taipei to dispatch its own air and maritime forces.
Taiwan's defence ministry said there was no live-fire near the island on Wednesday.
By early afternoon, 36 Chinese aircraft, 21 warships and 10 coast guard boats had been detected around Taiwan.
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