China conducts military drills around Taiwan | Radio Free Asia (RFA)

The Chinese military on Thursday launched large-scale drills around Taiwan, three days after new President Lai Ching-te took office, as “punishment” for the democratic island’s “separatist acts.”

“The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin,” China’s defense ministry said on its website.

The Joint Sword-2024A drills combine multiple branches of the armed forces under the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and will last until Friday.