BEIJING — China described its military exercises near Taiwan as “combat drills” on Wednesday, hours before the arrival of senior former U.S. officials in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joe Biden’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.
Taiwan has complained over the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defense zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, claimed by Beijing.
Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the largest reported incursion by Taipei to date.
China’s Taiwan A…
Keep on reading: As Biden’s emissaries go to Taiwan, China terms exercises ‘combat drills’