China surrounds Taiwan in surprise ‘punishment’ military drills

China launched surprise “punishment” drills encircling Taiwan, just days after the inauguration of a new Taiwanese president Beijing has denounced as a “separatist.” The two-day exercise began abruptly at on Thursday and involved aircraft and ships surrounding the island to “test” their combat capabilities, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said. Experts said the drills simulated a full-scale attack on Taiwan for the first time, rather than just a blockade. Read more here: #china #taiwan #drills Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer. Start your free trial now: Get the latest headlines: and are websites of The Tele