China Conducts Live-Fire Drills in Taiwan Strait Amid Tensions

Beijing: China began two days of live-fire drills from Thursday in some parts of the Taiwan Strait near the shores of its southeastern province of Fujian. The drills, scheduled to take place from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm (2200 GMT to 1000 GMT) each day, are focused around Dongshan Island, which borders the province of Guangdong, as stated by maritime authorities in a notice. According to TRTworld.com, the timing of these drills comes just a day after discussions between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The talks addressed a range of issues, including the contentious status of Taiwan, which China asserts as part of its territory. The recent announcement of the drills underscores ongoing tensions in the region, particularly following the United States' decision to unveil a significant $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan last December, a move that China strongly opposed. In December, China conducted its most extensive war games surrounding Taiwan, an autonomous island nation that rejects China's territorial claims. During those exercises, the Eastern Theatre Command launched rockets into the waters north and south of Taiwan over a 10-hour period, showcasing China's military capabilities and determination to assert its claims over the region.