UPDATE 4-Taiwan says China's military actions are greatest source of regional instability

China is the greatest source ‌of ​regional unease and instability due to its ongoing military activities, Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday, as the defence ministry reported the Chinese military was again conducting exercises near the island. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, ‌has stepped up its military and political pressure and has rebuffed repeated calls for talks from President Lai Ching-te, labelling him a "separatist".

Speaking to reporters in Taipei ahead of Wednesday's second anniversary of Lai taking office, Cho expressed concern about what China was up to. "The People's Republic of China continues to conduct military exercises of various scales and types in the ‌Taiwan Strait region, the Indo-Pacific region, the South China Sea, and even around Japan, affecting navigational safety," he said.

"This is the greatest source of regional unease ‌and instability." China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment.

CHINESE EXERCISES Taiwan's defence ministry said later on Tuesday that China had again carried out a "joint combat readiness patrol" around the island, and provided a picture of a Chinese J-16 fighter jet taken from a Taiwanese F-16, and another of a Chinese warship to the island's southwest.

"The threats and provocative actions by Chinese Communist military aircraft and vessels are ⁠the sole factor ​undermining regional peace and stability," the ministry ⁠said in a statement. China's defence ministry also did not respond to a request for comment.

China's armed forces operate almost daily around Taiwan, and earlier on Tuesday its navy said that a carrier task group, ⁠led by the Liaoning, had been sent to the "relevant waters" of the Western Pacific, although it did not give an exact location. The ships will carry out live firing and other drills ​to "test and enhance the realistic combat training capabilities of the forces", it said in a statement.

"This is a routine training organised in accordance with ⁠the annual plan, which aims to enhance the military's capability to fulfil its missions, and is fully in compliance with international law and practice." Cho reiterated that the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is a "sovereign and independent ⁠country", ​and again called for talks.

"We still hope for healthy and orderly exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and for dialogue based on equality and dignity. This has been our consistent principle." On Wednesday morning, Lai will hold a news conference to mark his second year in office.

In addition to delivering remarks for ⁠the anniversary, Lai will outline the administration's "future national vision and policy direction", his office said in a brief statement. Lai also faces domestic challenges given the opposition hold the most ⁠seats in parliament and have used ⁠their majority to stymie government plans, especially defence spending, and pass their own legislation.

On Tuesday, a move by parliament to impeach Lai failed, a largely symbolic vote given it needed two-thirds of lawmakers to support it and the opposition lack the numbers for ‌that.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)