The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said that 42 Chinese military planes and eight ships crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, which is an unofficial dividing line between Chinese and Taiwanese territory. China's military has begun rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan during three days of military drills. The exercises began hours after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a trip to the United States.<br />'' <br />'' Beijing called the operation a "stern warning" to the island's government.<br />'' <br />'' The current  "encirclement" is being seen as a reaction to President Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's meeting that took place on Wednesday.<br />'' <br />'' In an official statement on Saturday, President Tsai said that her government would continue working with the US and other democracies as the island faces "continued authoritarian expansionism" from China.<br />'' <br />'' According to the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command, the three-day operation 'United Sharp Sword' around Taiwan will continue till the coming Monday.<br />'' <br />''Earlier in August last year, Beijing had carried out almost a week of drills around Taiwan after Kevin McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taipei.