China holds military drills around Taiwan as 'strong punishment'

China's recent military drills around Taiwan have been described as a 'strong punishment' for what it perceives as 'separatist acts' by the self-ruled island. These exercises, which commenced shortly after President William Lai's inauguration, were met with condemnation from Taiwan's defense ministry, which labeled them as 'irrational provocations'. In response, Taiwan deployed naval, air, and ground forces to protect its sovereignty. Notably, the drills simulated a full-scale attack, a departure from previous simulations that focused on economic blockades. The exercises covered the main island of Taiwan and targeted Taipei-controlled islands near the Chinese coast. Furthermore, China directed its military activities towards the east of Taiwan, signaling that the region is now susceptible to potential Chinese aggression.