Taiwan President Thanks Fighter Pilots as Chinese Drills Ebb

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a meeting with Canadian Liberal MP John McKay, the chairman of the House of Commons standing committee on national defense, who is leading a Canadian parliamentary delegation for a visit, at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan in this handout image released April 12, 2023. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday thanked fighter pilots who scrambled against China's air force during its drills around the island and pledged to keep strengthening the armed forces, as Beijing's military activities around the island ebbed.

China began the exercises, including simulated precision strikes with bombers and missile forces, on April 8 after Tsai returned from Los Angeles, where she met US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, infuriating Beijing, Reuters said.