China on Monday continued its large-scale military exercises near Taiwan increasing the uncertainty in crisis that erupted last week with the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced the continuation of military exercises but there is no official word as to when China will end the military exercises causing a blockade of Taiwan which began on Aug. 4 in retaliation to Pelosi's Taiwan visit and were scheduled to conclude this Sunday. This has continued the disruption in shipping and air traffic and substantially raised concerns about the potential for conflict in a region crucial to global trade. <br />'' The exercises will mainly focus on the joint anti-submarine and air-to-sea assault operations. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China would "firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely deter the U.S. from containing China with the Taiwan issue and resolutely shatter the Taiwan authorities' illusion of "relying on the U.S. for independence." <br />'' The Chinese military also launched ballistic missiles around Taiwan, some of which fell in waters which Japan claimed were its exclusive economic zone. Wang Wenbin on Monday again rejected Japan's concerns regarding its EEZ and said whether it is legal, political or moral, Japan has no right or right to make irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan issue. Ahead of 20th party congress in a couple of months where President Xi Jinping is seeking a third term as Communist Party leader, nationalistic sentiments have been feverishly trumpeted with issues such as Taiwan, territorial claims in the South China Sea and Japan as a historical adversary.<br />'' China has cut off military-to-military talks with the U.S. and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for her visit. Pentagon, State Department and White House officials condemned China's responses, describing it as an irresponsible overreaction. A White House spokesperson said that these activities are a significant escalation in China's efforts to change the status quo. The spokesperson said they are provocative, and irresponsible and raise the risk of miscalculation as China is cutting off some of its few communication lines at a critical moment. <br />'' Wu Qian, senior colonel and spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, blamed the US for the current "strain in the Taiwan Strait," adding that China's "countermeasures," including cancelling military theater-commander level dialogue "are justified and proper." <br />'' According to media reports, Taiwan's army will conduct live-fire artillery drills in southern Pingtung county on Tuesday and Thursday, in response to the Chinese exercises.