Taiwan‘s president slammed China on its second day of military exercises near the island, saying the country is working to deliberately undermine “regional stability through military intimidation.” China said it was merely responding to Taiwanese forces and taking the “necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The drills come amid Chinese anger at U.S. arms sales to the self-ruling island and a statement by Japan’s prime minister that its military could get involved if China were to move against it.

Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of strategic importance for regional and global security and prosperity,' says EU Commission spokesperson - Anadolu Ajansı

In 1978, the 21-day exercise, dubbed “Nifty Nugget,” brought two dozen military commands to bear to support a notional conflict in Europe.

China has launched new large-scale military exercises in the “middle areas” of the Taiwan Strait, signaling a sharp escalation in pressure on Taiwan. The move comes amid rising diplomatic tensions with the United States and Japan.