BEIJING: Multiple branches of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are continuing large-scale military exercises near the island of Taiwan, at a time when Taiwan secessionists insisted on making provocative statements and holding drills, and the US sent a warship through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday and voiced support to “Taiwan independence” forces, even as the PLA was exercising around the island with an aircraft carrier task group and warplanes.

Taiwan secessionists and the US are leaving the Chinese mainland and the PLA with no choice but to enhance war preparedness in case of “Taiwan secessionism,” analysts said on Thursday.