Shi said the exercises would test the armed forces’ “ability to fight in real combat conditions.”“The patrols and exercises serve as a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists with foreign elements and their provocations,” Shi added. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing, democratic island of Taiwan – despite never having controlled it. The move also comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and China. US President Joe Biden has been hosting the leaders of Japan and South Korea at a trilateral summit undergirded by the three countries’ mutual concern over China. On Tuesday, US-sanctioned defense minister Li Shangfu warned against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States when he addressed a security conference in Russia.

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Persons: CNN —, ”, Shi Yi, Shi, ’, China’s, Taiwan –, William Lai, Lai, Joe Biden, Li Shangfu, “ Organizations: CNN, Eastern Theater Command, Xinhua, Communist Party, Paraguay – Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Paraguay, South America, ”, United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia