China launches live-fire drills around Taiwan simulating blockade of major ports

Taipei condemns exercise that Chinese army calls a stern warning' against separatist and external forces

China has launched live-fire military drills around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of major ports, attacking maritime targets, and fending off international interference", in what it calls a warning to separatist" forces in Taiwan.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) - the military wing of the ruling Communist party in China - sent its navy, air force, rocket force and coastguard to surround Taiwan on Monday morning for a surprise exercise called Justice Mission 2025", which began less than an hour after it was announced.