China says its military activities around Taiwan are ‘reasonable, justified’

Synopsis Beijing stands firm on the legitimacy of its military maneuvers around Taiwan, asserting that these drills are both reasonable and warranted. The Chinese defense authorities point fingers at the Taipei administration for fuelling rising antagonism. President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan is advocating for a more robust defense budget, pushing the narrative that strength is essential for maintaining peace. TAIPEI: China’s regular military activities around Taiwan are “entirely justified and reasonable” and any tensions are the fault of the government in Taipei, the Chinese defence ministry said in a rare comment on Friday. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as…