00:00The sound of gunfire echoes
00:28across the Taiwan Strait, not from war, but from drills that many fear are edging dangerously
00:34close to one.
00:39China has launched large-scale live-fire military exercises encircling Taiwan, simulating a
00:46blockade of the island's key ports.
00:49For Taipei, this is no routine show of force, it's a direct threat.
00:55As warships, fighter jets, bombers and drones move into position, Taiwan is asking a question
01:02the world is quietly asking too.
01:05Is another war loading?
01:07Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has never ruled out using force
01:13to take control of the self-ruled island.
01:16On Monday, China's military announced Justice Mission 2025, a sweeping operation involving
01:23army, navy, air force and rocket forces.
01:27The drills include sea air combat patrols, joint seizure of dominance and all-dimensional deterrence,
01:34a language that signals preparation, not practice.
01:38Chinese authorities even released maps marking five danger zones surrounding Taiwan, warning
01:44ships and aircraft to stay away.
01:47Taipei has condemned the exercises as blatant military intimidation and a violation of international
01:54norms.
02:21Taiwan's defense ministry reports detecting 89 Chinese military aircraft in a single day,
02:28the highest number since October last year, along with 28 warships and Coast Guard vessels.
02:35Some of the designated drill zones fall within 12 nautical miles of Taiwan's coast, disrupting
02:41global shipping and aviation routes.
02:44Taiwan's military has activated a rapid response center and deployed forces across land, sea and
02:50air.
02:51The pressure isn't just military.
02:54Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration says China declared a temporary danger area for 10
03:00hours, forcing airlines to assess alternate routes.
03:04The Coast Guard has pre-positioned large vessels and sent additional support units to sensitive
03:09areas.
03:11Officials warn these actions risk destabilizing not just Taiwan, but one of the world's most vital
03:17trade corridors.
03:19China insists the drills are a stern warning against what it calls separatist forces.
03:25State media has amplified the message with fiery propaganda, posters showing arrows of justice
03:31striking Taiwan, and AI-generated videos depicting animal predators transforming into Chinese weapons.
03:39Broadcaster CCTV says the core goal is a blockade, targeting ports like Keilung and Kaohsiung, critical
03:47to Taiwan's economy and survival.
03:50The timing is no coincidence.
03:53The drills follow major US arms sales to Taiwan, nearly $11 billion worth, prompting Beijing to
04:00warn of imminent war and sanction American defense firms.
04:04For Taiwan, the message is clear, pressure is intensifying.
04:09For the region, the risk is growing.
04:11And for the world, the question remains, is this deterrence or the rehearsal of something
04:17far more dangerous?
04:32is it?
04:33The tendency will Rashmi can uneasy aman
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