This morning, a tense situation unfolded in Taiwan as China launched a massive two-day military drill surrounding the self-governing island. The military exercise, known as Operation Joint Sword 2024-A, is being carried out by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army.
China's show of force comes just two days after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-dao, whose speech emphasizing Taiwanese sovereignty was perceived as highly provocative by Beijing. President Lai's remarks called for China to recognize Taiwan as a self-governing democracy with a population of nearly 24 million that holds regular democratic elections.
