China holds largest military exercise near Taiwan

China has deployed 71 warplanes near Taiwan in the biggest display of military might since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the democratically run island, with Taipei accusing Beijing of “military intimidation, according to Bangkok Post.

Taiwanese Defence Ministry said that the flights included 47 Chinese military aircraft that crossed either the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan’s southwest air-defence identification zone in a 24-hour period to 6 a.m. (local time) on December 26.

China also sent seven naval vessels near the island, added the ministry.

On December 25, China’s military said it conducted exercises around Taiwan in response to escalating “collusion and provocations” from Taiwan and the US, drills that come after Washington authorized increased military assistance to the island.