China begins military drills around Taiwan as ‘punishment’ for new president

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China sent dozens of warplanes “fully loaded with live ammunition” and several navy destroyers and frigates all around Taiwan and its outlying islands on Thursday, launching large-scale military drills as “punishment for separatist acts” after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te.

The forces were simulating strikes on “high value ‘enemy’ targets” in military drills that run through Friday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.