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China launched large military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, confirming fears that Beijing would ratchet up tensions days after Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te asserted his country’s sovereignty in a National Day speech, FT reported.

The People’s Liberation Army said it had sent ground, naval, air and missile forces to practise “combat readiness patrols, blockade of key ports and areas, assault on maritime and ground targets and seizure of comprehensive superiority”.

The drills were “a stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces”, the PLA Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

The US said it was “seriously concerned” by the drills and condemned Beijing for threatening regional stability. China’s “response with military provocations to a routine annual speech is unwarranted and risks escalation”, said state department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Lai convened a national security meeting, while his office called on China to end military provocations and stop threatening Taiwan.

“There is a broad consensus among the international community on the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” Lai’s office said. “China should face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and respect the Taiwanese people’s choice of a democratic and free way of life.”

The PLA exercises follow a speech by Lai last Thursday in which he asserted Taiwan’s sovereignty but also appealed to China to work with him for peace. He also highlighted the 1911 uprising that overthrew Chinese imperial rule as part of Taiwan’s history, in an overture to those Taiwanese who embrace a Chinese identity.

Aides of Lai described his speech as a gesture of goodwill towards Beijing, while foreign observers viewed it as restrained and moderate.