HONG KONG — China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Monday in what it said was a warning to “independence forces” on the Beijing-claimed island.

The exercises had been expected after Beijing criticized a speech last week by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. In the speech marking Taiwan’s National Day, Lai said that China had no right to represent the self-ruling democracy and its 23 million people but that he was willing to work with Beijing to address global…