China initiated two days of military exercises near Taiwan as a response to the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who has emphasized Taiwan's separate identity and vowed to safeguard its democracy from Chinese influence. The drills, involving sea and air maneuvers, were described by China as a "strong punishment" for those advocating Taiwan's independence and a warning against external interference, particularly from the United States. Despite expressing willingness to engage in dialogue with Beijing, President Lai's remarks were met with criticism from China, which accused him of promoting formal independence for Taiwan. This display of military force is seen as part of ongoing pressure from China and is expected to persist, particularly around the Taiwanese-controlled islands of Kinmen and Matsu.