China has warned the US that interference in Taiwan will “be met with a firm counterattack” as Beijing launches major military drills around the democratically-governed island. As part of its most extensive war games near the South Asian country, China deployed troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery to encircle Taiwan on Monday, simulating strikes on land and sea targets and drills to blockade its main ports.

The sixth round of war games since 2022, ramping up Beijing’s territorial claims on the nation, followed the announcement of a record $11.1 billion (£8.2 billion) US-Taiwan arms deal, including drones and medium-range missiles.

In a chilling warning against further emboldenment of the Pacific Island country, China’s foreign ministry said: “Any act of provocation on the Taiwan issue will surely be met with a firm counterattack from the Chinese side.”

Pressed on whether the latest military exercises were provoked by the US action, a spokesperson added: “China’s defence of national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity is unswerving.”

Beijing has long viewed Taiwan as a breakaway province of which it could eventually regain control after splitting during the civil war of 1949, and the two states retain strong trade and business links.

The island, which lies around 100 miles off the coast of southeast China, has consistently rejected China’s claims of sovereignty, however maintaining its status as a self-ruled democracy.

Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence at Taiwan’s defence ministry, told Reuters: “Our armed forces operate on the principle of preparing for the worst and must take every possible scenario into account.

“Conducting live-fire exercises around the Taiwan Strait…would not only constitute military pressure on us, but could also pose more complex challenges and impacts for the international community and neighbouring countries.”

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry also said in a statement that it had deployed appropriate forces in response to the drills, labelling the Chinese Communist Party “an aggressor and the biggest destroyer of peace”.

Fu Zhengyuan, researcher at the Chinese military’s Academy of Military Science, said the manoeuvres were justified by growing closeness between US and Taiwanese combat forces, increasing the likelihood of a direct clash between the two superpowers.

Beijing also imposed sanctions against 20 US companies and 10 executives after the arms deal was announced, urging President Donald Trump to stop “the dangerous moves of arming Taiwan”.

In a statement last Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said: “We stress once again that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. Any company or individual who engages in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for the wrongdoing.”

The US said the sale would “maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region”. Under federal law, it is obliged to help Taiwan with self-defence, putting it at increasing odds with China – with this week’s drills likely to heighten tensions on all sides.