China launches major military drills around Taiwan as island deploys forces to ‘protect freedom’

China’s military has launched two days of major drills around Taiwan, encircling the island with ships and fighter jets in the greatest escalation in tension across the Taiwan Strait since 2022. Li Jia, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spokesperson, called the drills “strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan’s independence forces”. Not only is Taiwan encircled, including its mountainous eastern flank, but the PLA is also operating close to the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin. Image: Chinese TV showed images of planes taking off and naval exercises Taiwan’s defence ministry condemned the drills, calling them an “irrational…