China holds war drills around Taiwan in warning to 'separatists'

AWANI

China launched new military drills around Taiwan, simulating the seizure and blockage of key areas on the island, as warning to what it calls 'separatist forces'.

Transcript

00:00China has launched new military drills around Taiwan,

00:03stimulating the seizure and blockade of key areas on the island.

00:07Beijing says the exercises are meant as a warning to what it calls separatist forces.

00:14However, Taiwan says it will defend its democracy

00:16and has mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

00:22China's army, navy, air force and rocket force are all taking part in the drills,

00:27including live fire exercises.

00:30Beijing has accused Taiwan's President Lai Ching-teh of pursuing what it calls Taiwan's independence.

00:36The exercises come just 11 days after the United States approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan,

00:42the largest ever for the island.

00:44That move drew a sharp protest from Beijing, which has since imposed sanctions on US defence firms.

00:51Analysts say China's drills are increasingly blurring the line between routine military training

00:56and preparations for a potential attack,

00:59a strategy that could leave the United States and its allies with little warning.

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