Furious China launches two-day ‘punishment’ drills across Taiwan in stern response to ‘separatists acts’

A furious Beijing launched “punishment” drills around Taiwan on Thursday, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks in a response to “separatist acts” as state media denounced the newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held joint military drills involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, with Beijing sending out dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles, according to state media. 

The two-day operation will see the jets and warships carrying out mock strikes of high-value military targets.