China, France hold joint naval exercises

China and France held joint naval exercises off the coast of Qingdao, Shandong province, four days before Taiwan's election and proposed referenda. The exercises were the largest held by China in conjunction with a foreign country. The exercises followed denouncements by French President Jacques Chirac of Taiwan's proposed referenda regarding Taiwan's posture toward the mainland. Neither France nor China stated any connection between the exercises and Taiwan's election.