CRITICISM “IRRESPONSIBLE”: BEIJING There has been a chorus of international criticism of China’s drills. Japan said on Wednesday that China’s military exercises “increase tensions” across the Taiwan Strait, and that it had expressed its “concerns” to Beijing. Australia’s foreign ministry condemned the “destabilising” drills, saying it had raised concerns with its Beijing counterparts. The Philippines’ defence department also said it was “deeply concerned” over drills that threatened to “undermine regional peace and stability”. Beijing said criticism of its exercises was “irresponsible”. “These countries and institutions are turning a blind eye to the separatist forces in Taiwan attempting to achieve independence through military means,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing on Wednesday. “Yet, they are making irresponsible criticisms of China’s necessary and just actions to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, distorting facts and confusing right and wrong, which is utterly hypocritical.” China said on Tuesday it had deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers “to conduct drills on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, …