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May 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan's military mobilised its

forces after China started two days of "punishment" drills

around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to

"separatist acts", and after new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te

delivered his inauguration speech.

Here are some reactions to the military drills:

SONG ZHONGPING, CHINESE MILITARY EXPERT, IN HONG KONG:

"Due to the aggressiveness of Taiwan independence forces

in recent days, the PLA is trying to tell both the 'Taiwan

independence' forces and external forces that it is capable of

eliminating the 'Taiwan independence' force with the speed and

momentum of a thunderbolt through this large-scale drill."

CHINA'S STATE BROADCASTER:

"Throughout his speech Lai Ching-te used the word

'China' to refer to mainland China, and used the word 'country'

to refer to Taiwan. He promoted separatist fallacies such as the

so-called sovereignty, independence, and non-subordination of

the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater

Command carried out a joint drill around Taiwan Island, which

was a firm punishment for Lai Ching-te's provocation."

TAIWAN'S DEFENCE MINISTRY:

"The launch of military exercises on this occasion not

only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the

Taiwan Strait, it also highlights (China's) militaristic

mentality."

WU XINBO, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR AMERICAN STUDIES AT

FUDAN UNIVERSITY IN SHANGHAI:

"The drills encircling the island, is giving him (Taiwan's

new President Lai Ching-te) a blow on the head in order to shock

and awe Lai and Taiwan independence forces on the island. This

is also certainly a blow to the U.S.

This year's Joint Sword-2024A drills are very strong in

intensity, showing that the mainland is willing to increase its

deterrence towards Taiwan independence forces and strengthen its

capability to mould the Taiwan Strait situation in response to

the domestic changes in Taiwan. I believe that the shock and awe

military drills from today onwards will be a routine

occurrence."

LIEUTENANT GENERAL STEPHEN SKLENKA, DEPUTY COMMANDER US INDO

PACIFIC COMMAND, IN CANBERRA:

"The normalisation of abnormal actions, that's what's

happening. Just because we expect that behaviour doesn't mean we

shouldn't condemn it. We need to condemn it publicly and it

needs to come from us but it also needs to come from nations in

the region ... it is far more powerful when it comes from

nations in this region. It is concerning but I also believe in

my heart of hearts that conflict between our two nations is not

inevitable and its not a foregone conclusion."