China Holds New Military Drills Around Taiwan

China’s military launched a new round of war games around Taiwan on Oct. 14, deployed planes and ships around the self-ruled island in what Bejing described as a “stern warning” to “separatist” forces. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry saying it will deploy “appropriate forces” to safeguard its sovereignty. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military launched its “Joint Sword-2024B” drills just four days after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in his national address that Beijing has no right to represent Taiwan. It is the fourth such drill in two years. The CCP’s Eastern Theatre Command stated that it was conducting the drills in the Taiwan Strait and “areas to the north, south and east” of Taiwan. It did not specify how long the drills will last....