Chinese State Media Issues Warning to Key US Partner

Chinese newspaper the Global Times has issued a stark warning to Taiwan, a key U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific who is fighting to maintain its independence from Beijing.

China says that Taiwan, a self-governing island democracy in East Asia, is a territory of the People's Republic. This has long caused severe tension between China and Taiwan and strained relations between China and the United States, which has backed Taiwan independence.

Following an inauguration speech that Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, delivered on Monday, China launched two-day military exercises around Taiwan starting Thursday with Beijing's military stating that it was a "punishment" for the island seeking independence.