China has launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan in what Beijing describes as a blunt warning to 'separatist forces' and foreign interference, sending tensions in the Taiwan Strait sharply higher and putting Taipei on high alert.
According to the BBC, the exercises involve China's army, navy, air force and rocket force, with live-fire elements and complex manoeuvres taking place across multiple zones surrounding the self-governing island. Chinese military officials say the drills are designed to test combat readiness and deter moves towards formal independence.
