Taiwan scrambles jets and puts naval units on alert over China's military drills

Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert on Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week. China's military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence. Advertisement Beijing claims the island is part of China's national territory and the People's Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan's defences and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence. Advertisement…