China’s military held long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea in an escalation of ongoing drills around Taiwan. China said the exercises around Taiwan were to "serve as a stern warning and powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence.

The Chinese military staged a second day of exercises around Taiwan on Wednesday, launching live-fire strikes in the East China Sea and practicing blockade operations near crucial shipping lanes to the east and west of the island.

On Tuesday, the Chinese military announced it had launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan, involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. These exercises were described as a “stern warning” and a “forceful deterrence” against what China sees as Taiwan’s push for independence.