Taichung, Taiwan: China has launched two days of military drills surrounding Taiwan as “punishment” for acts of independence after the island’s new president, Lai Ching-te, took office on Monday.

The drills, which began on Thursday morning, are being carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taiwan Strait. Forces encircled the main island, as well as the offshore islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, Chinese state media reported.

Li Xi, a spokesman for the PLA theatre command, was quoted by the Chinese news agency Xinhua as saying the “Joint Sward-2024A” exercises focused on “sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control and joint precision strikes on new targets”.

The drills are the largest in more than a year, and were intended to “serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces,” Xinhua reported.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it China was engaging in “irrational provocation”. It indicated that country’s military was on alert and had deployed sea, air and ground forces.

“In the face of external challenges and threats, [the forces] will continue to defend democracy and have the confidence and ability to protect national security. Please rest assured,” a ministry statement said.

At Taichung Airport, in central Taiwan, on Thursday morning travellers queued for flights to Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu that are popular weekend getaways.

“It’s worrying and it makes me feel nervous. I’m not sure if this kind of activity is intended to serve as intimidation only, or if it represents an escalation that is leading towards a formal invasion at some point,” said Aubrey Shih, 28, who was travelling with her family to Matsu.