Dec. 29 (UPI) -- China began holding live-fire military drills around Taiwan on Monday, creating a simulation of a blockade of the island's major ports as a warning to "separatist forces."

BEIJING (Dec 29): China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island’s key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing’s “military intimidation”. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military action to seize the island democracy. TheRead More

China has started live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, hours after announcing "major" drills in waters and airspace near the self-governed democratic island.

The drills, codenamed Justice Mission 2025, are aimed at stimulating the seizure and blockade of key areas of the island and include live-fire components

BEIJING/TAIPEI >> China launched its most extensive war games around Taiwan today to showcase Beijing’s ability to cut off ‌the island from outside support in a conflict, testing Taipei’s resolve to defend itself and its arsenal of U.S.-made weapons.

China's decision to bring serious firepower to bear for military drills in the waters off Taiwan this week has deep roots — both in the past several weeks and the past several decades. The island is the most sensitive political subject for China. It has been ever since Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.

China's decision to bring serious firepower to bear for military drills in the waters off Taiwan this week has deep roots — both in the past several weeks and the past several decades. The island is the most sensitive political subject for China. It has been ever since Taiwan split…

The drills, which would continue on Tuesday, involve live firing, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the island's main ports and encircle it.

China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises, as the island scrambled soldiers and showcased U.S.-made hardware to rehearse repelling an attack. The Eastern Theater Command said it had concentrated forces to the north and southwest of…

The show of force comes after the Trump administration approved a major new arms package for Taiwan. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

China's military on Monday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace.” Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions.

China's military on Monday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace.” Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions.

"They've been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently," US President Donald Trump said.

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said that the delay of roughly 296 international departures, 265 international arrivals and 296 transit flights affected by the live-fire drills that China launched…

China this morning conducted live-fire military drills in waters around Taiwan, aimed, it says, as a warning against separatist forces in the self-ruled island. Codenamed "Justice Mission 2025", the drills come just ten days after the Trump administration announced Washington's largest ever arms package for Taipei, and Japan's claim that it would intervene in the event of China attacking Taiwan.