Taiwan holds drills, says China seeks control of seas

China says its drills were prompted by the visit to the island last week by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but Joseph Wu said China was using her visit as a pretext

Taiwan's Foreign Minister said on Tuesday that China aims to control the East and South China Seas via the Taiwan Strait, describing a greater ambition to upend the Asia-Pacific status quo and prevent nations from aiding the self-governing island.

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu spoke at a news conference in Taipei as Taiwan began live-fire military drills to test combat readiness in response to ongoing Chinese exercises that have included launching missiles into waters off the island of 23 million people.

China says its drills were prompted by the visit to the island last week by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but Mr. Wu said China was using her visit as a pretext. China also banned some Taiwanese food imports after the visit and cut off dialogue with the U.S. on several issues including climate change.

Mr. Wu said China aims to upend the status quo and annex Taiwan, the self-governing island republic it claims as its own territory.

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The drills are a rehearsal for an invasion of the island in which it seeks to prevent other countries coming to the island's assistance, Mr. Wu said.