China held its most extensive war games encircling Taiwan in December, after the United States unveiled a record $11.1 billion arms package for the island, whose government rejects China’s sovereignty claim. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
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.
China held its most extensive war games encircling Taiwan in December, after the United States unveiled a record $11.1 billion arms package for the island, whose government rejects China’s sovereignty claim.
During 10 hours of live-fire exercises at the time, China’s Eastern Theatre Command launched rockets into waters north and south of Taiwan.
Published – July 23, 2026 10:09 pm IST
