Tensions Rise in Taiwan Strait as China Conducts Military Drills #

China has launched military drills encircling Taiwan, just days after a new leader was sworn in, which Beijing has long loathed. The exercises are seen as “punishment” for the election and inauguration of Taiwan’s new President. This escalation poses a significant test for Taiwan’s new leader, who has championed democracy in the face of growing threats from China. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary. China’s military drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, as well as areas around Taiwan’s outlying islands. Taiwan has dispatched its own forces in response to China’s provocation.