Beijing said the drills were in response to recent statements and actions by the U.S. and others regarding the self-governing island it claims sovereignty over.

Chinese military exercises near Taiwan on Monday were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's continued promotion of "separatism", according to a stern statement out of Beijing, as Taiwan hit back by calling China a troublemaker.

In an echo of long-held U.S. warnings, Taiwan for the first time identified 2027 as the year a potential Chinese invasion of the democratic island could be unleashed.