TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China is holding large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan, deploying an aircraft carrier along with warplanes, underscoring the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait. China’s Defense Ministry says the drills are a response to the Taiwanese president’s refusal to accept Beijing’s demand that self-governed Taiwan acknowledge itself as a part of the People’s Republic of China under the rule of the Communist Party. The drills began Monday after Taiwan last week celebrated its National Day. President Lai Ching-te said in a speech marking the holiday that China has no right to represent Taiwan and declared his commitment to “resist annexation or encroachment.”