How significant are China's military drills around Taiwan?

China has launched two days of military drills around Taiwan after the island swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te. Lai takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president since 2016. Both are from the Democratic Progressive party (DPP), a pro-sovereignty political party detested by the Chinese government, which views the group as separatists. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take control of it, with force if necessary. The naming of this Joint Sword drill, suffixed with -2024A, has fostered expectations there are more drills to come this year. How significant are the drills? The…