China holds military drills around Taiwan after US arms dealListen to this articleA bomber takes off from an undisclosed location for drills east of Taiwan, in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), on Monday. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via REUTERS)China kicked off military manoeuvres around Taiwan that it said included live-fire drills, in a dramatic show of force after the US announced one of its biggest arms packages ever for the self-run democracy. The People’s Liberation Army published a separate statement outlining five zones for live-fire drills on Tuesday, which Chinese authorities advised airlines to avoid. The drills underscore how sensitive the Taiwan question is to Beijing, even as it seeks to stabilize relations with Washington — Taipei’s biggest backer. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary — a stance Taipei steadfastly rejects.

Source: Bangkok Post December 29, 2025 14:19 UTC