China begins two days of live-fire drills in Taiwan Strait
China has initiated two days of live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait near Dongshan Island. These exercises follow recent diplomatic discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials regarding Taiwan's status.
Why it matters
The drills represent a significant escalation in regional geopolitical tensions, reflecting the ongoing friction between China, Taiwan, and the United States.
China began two days of live-fire drills on Thursday (July 23, 2026) in some parts of the Taiwan Strait near the shores of its southeastern province of Fujian.
The news comes a day after talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on a range of issues, including democratically-governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
The drills will run from 6.00 a.m. to 6 p.m. (2200 GMT to 1000 GMT) each day around Dongshan Island, bordering the province of Guangdong, maritime authorities said in a notice.
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