The two-day drills, which began Thursday morning, are meant to test the “capability to take control of the sea, conduct joint attacks, and seize key islands,” said Li Xi, a spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command. On Thursday, the military said the maneuvers are taking place “in the Taiwan Strait, the waters north, southwest, and southeast of Taiwan island, as well as the airspace over those waters,” including areas near the Chinese-held islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, which lie just off the coast of mainland China. Li Xi then described the exercises as a “resolute punishment for the provocative actions by ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and a stern warning against external interference and provocations.” Taiwan’s defense ministry said Thursday it had put its “naval, air and ground forces on alert … to safeguard national freedom, democracy and sovereignty,” adding that “all officers and soldiers of the national army are combat ready.” The drills began three days after Taiwan’s new President William Lai Ching-te gave an inaugural address in which he said Beijing must “face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China,” Taiwan’s formal name. The self-governing island of 23 million people operates as a de facto sovereign state, with its own military and外交, though it has never formally declared independence. Beijing views the island as its own territory and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary. Lai said Thursday that the island would “safeguard the values of freedom and democracy.” “I will be on the front lines with our military brothers and sisters to jointly defend national security,” Lai said at an event at a military base. “In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to safeguard the values of freedom and democracy and maintain peace and stability in the region,” he added. The European Union on Thursday rejected any forceful attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, saying it “opposes any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions,” in an apparent reference to China’s military exercises in the area. Also on Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman called for restraint in the Taiwan Strait, urging parties “to refrain from any actions that could raise tensions.” Read Also: UE opõe-se a alterações pela força da situação no Estreito de Taiwan (Portuguese version)