TAIPEI: China has provoked Taiwan by conducting three-day-long military drills around Taiwan following the Taiwanese President's recent visit to the United States (US). Nearly 70 fighter jets were deployed near the border by China. Of these, 35 jets violated the boundary, Taiwan said. China announced the military drill after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen held a meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The meeting took place on April 5.

China had made a similar provocation even when Nancy Pelosi, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August last year.

Meanwhile, Taiwan lodged a protest against Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying that the country would not yield to threats. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence called Taiwan as their "homeland."

Taking to its official Twitter handle, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "#Taiwan is our homeland, and no matter where we go or what we encounter, she is always charming and beautiful. Every story on this land is etched in our memories. We, #ROCArmedForces, are fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland and to protect our home together."