A, conducted by the People's Liberation Army, focused on 'blockade enforcement' around Taiwan. The PLA said the drills were aimed at displaying Beijing's wrath against 'separatist' statements by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

China's launches drills around Taiwan to "severely punish" the island's pro-independence leader, as the U.S. boosts its war footing in Japan to deter Chinese "aggression."

Two YJ-21 missiles were on board an H-6K strategic bomber as it took off from an unidentified airfield in PLA video on opening day of drills.

The Trump administration on Tuesday issued a warning to China after Beijing announced large-scale war games in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. The joint military drills, which were launched

The White House’s push to confront China reassured officials in Taipei, who watched President Trump’s shift on Ukraine with alarm.

The Chinese military on Tuesday said it had begun conducting exercises that would approach the island of Taiwan “from multiple directions,” according to a statement posted on the Eastern Theater Command’s official social media account.

By Ben Aris in Berlin Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the US military to prioritise deterring China’s seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defence, but has downgraded Russia to a second tier,