China has started military exercises around Taiwan, citing the need to protect the country's sovereignty. Troops, warships, destroyers and artillery were stationed around the island.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Qian said these actions are necessary to protect the country's territorial integrity, and are also a decisive response to the actions of foreign forces that are trying to use Taiwan to contain China, arming the island and bringing the situation to the brink of a dangerous war. The exercise will continue on December 30.
Earlier, the US announced the sale of 11 billion dollars worth of arms to Taiwan, which is the largest arms supply package to the island. This caused outrage in China. The country's Ministry of Defense announced that it would take strict measures in response.
