Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai on Tuesday accused China of being the main source of instability in the region, citing Beijing’s growing military activity around Taiwan and across the Indo-Pacific.

His remarks came as China’s navy announced that a carrier strike group led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier had been deployed to the Western Pacific for military drills.

Taiwan Criticises Chinese Military Pressure

Speaking in Taipei ahead of Wednesday’s second anniversary of President Lai Ching-te taking office, Cho said China’s expanding military exercises were increasing tensions across the region.

“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,” Cho told reporters.

“This is the greatest source of regional unease and instability.”

China has stepped up military and political pressure on Taiwan over the past year and has repeatedly rejected calls for dialogue from President Lai, whom Beijing labels a “separatist”.

Chinese Carrier Group Sent To Western Pacific

On Tuesday, China’s navy confirmed that the Liaoning carrier task group had entered what it called the “relevant waters” of the Western Pacific for training exercises.

The Chinese military said the drills would include live-fire exercises and were aimed at improving “realistic combat training capabilities”.

“This is a routine training organised in accordance with the annual plan,” the navy said in a statement, adding that the exercises complied with international law and standard international practice.

China did not specify the exact location of the carrier group.

Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operate around Taiwan almost daily as Beijing continues to increase pressure on the island.

Taiwan Repeats Call For Dialogue

Cho reiterated Taiwan’s position that the Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name, is a “sovereign and independent country”.

Despite tensions, he said Taiwan still hoped for dialogue with Beijing.

“We still hope for healthy and orderly exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and for dialogue based on equality and dignity,” Cho said.

“This has been our consistent principle.”

Lai Faces Domestic Pressure Too

President Lai Ching-te is expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday to mark his second year in office and outline his government’s future policy direction.

Lai also faces political pressure at home, with opposition parties controlling parliament and blocking parts of his agenda, particularly defence spending proposals.

On Tuesday, an opposition-led attempt to impeach Lai failed in parliament after falling short of the required support.

(with inputs from Reuters)