China says it has begun three days of military exercises around Taiwan.

The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command announced on Saturday that it had started combat readiness patrols and drills. It said they will be held in waters and airspace around the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of Taiwan as planned.

The command said the exercise is a serious warning against what it calls "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' collusion with external forces and provocations.

The scale of the drills and other details have not been disclosed.

The move is seen as a response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting this week with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Following the meeting, China's Ministry of National Defense said the People's Liberation Army will always be on high alert.

It said, "The PLA will resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Last year, China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan in reaction to a visit to Taiwan by then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.