China on Monday announced the launch of a large-scale inter-service joint military exercise around Taiwan, showcasing its assertion over the island nation, which Beijing claims "is a sacred and inseparable part" of its territory.
For weeks, US Representative Riley Moore has raised alarm over what he considers the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) exploitation of the US visa program meant for studying in the US.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday evening that the simulation, involving central and local government units and civil groups, was aimed to test governmental responses to various scenarios if cross-strait tensions were to escalate further.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) latest military exercises near Taiwan have introduced an unannounced and unpredictable approach, deviating from past practices of tying drills to specific provocations. Experts suggest this could signal a strategy of normalisation, psychological p
"Beijing's operation is not only targeting Taipei but aimed at demonstrating its ability to prevent regional countries, including Japan and the Philippines, from coming to the island's defence," Taiwanese defence officials said.