China recently conducted its largest military exercise in over a year around the island of Taiwan, following the inauguration of Taiwan's new president who advocates for the island's sovereignty from Beijing. The military activity encircling Taiwan has been significant, with China stating that the drills were a test of their ability to seize control over the democracy of Taiwan. The exercises involved dozens of Chinese aircraft, warships, and Coast Guard vessels, simulating a blockade of Taiwan, which could potentially precede an invasion. Such a blockade could severely impact Taiwan's economy, heavily reliant on imports for essentials like food and energy.
In response to Chinese aggression, Taiwan has condemned the actions and called on democratic allies, including the United States, for support. The Taiwanese military has deployed aircraft to monitor the situation and released videos of tracking Chinese bombers reportedly carrying live missiles during the drills. Additionally, protests have erupted in Taipei, with thousands expressing anger towards lawmakers perceived as being friendly to China and undermining the new president's tough stance.
