China flew bombers and fired long-range artillery during a second day of exercises designed to show its ability to claim the island-democracy by force.

BEIJING: China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday (Dec 29), deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its Justice Mission 2025 exercises, as the island scrambled soldiers...

The Eastern Theater Command, which covers the Taiwan Strait, has said the "Justice Mission 2025" exercises in five areas surrounding the self-ruled island involve live-fire drills, urging vessels and ...

The Pentagon considers China to be a long-term “pacing challenge” and has responded by boosting cooperation with regional partners and arms sales. Beijing maintains its military development is defensive in nature and has accused Washington of seeking to hamper China’s rise.

China this morning conducted live-fire military drills in waters around Taiwan, aimed, it says, as a warning against separatist forces in the self-ruled island.

China said it was conducting "live-fire training on maritime targets to the north and southwest of Taiwan" in large-scale exercises involving destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and drones.

Min Aung Hlaing, who has governed Myanmar since an army takeover in 2021, will then assume the presidency. The military government has presented the vote as a return to democracy, but its bid for legitimacy is marred by the absence of formerly popular opposition parties and reports that soldiers used threats to force voters’ participation.

Under the shadow of civil war and questions over the poll's credibility, the initial round of Myanmar's phased general election closed on Sunday, with signs of low voter turnout for the first polls si...