China Launches Military Drills In Taiwan Strait

The Chinese military announced new exercises Wednesday in sensitive waters near Taiwan, a day after Beijing launched drills to surround the self-ruled island it claims as its own.

The exercises in the crucial Taiwan Strait waterway aim to "test the troops' capabilities" in areas such as "blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets", Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.

The drills are located in the middle and southern parts of the strait, the military said, which is a vital artery for global shipping.