China-Taiwan tensions Live Updates: Taiwan fires flares to warn drones flying over outlying islands

China Taiwan Tensions Live Updates: Taiwan’s defence minry said Saturday that it had fired flares late on Friday to warn away seven drones flying over its outlying Kinmen Islands and to warn unidentified aircraft flying over its outlying Matsu Islands. China is conducting military drills in the area, which Beijing claims as its territory, following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit.
China’s Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement it conducted air and sea drills to the north, southwest and east of Taiwan on Friday “to test the troops’ joint combat capabilities.” The live-fire drills, the largest ever conducted China in the Taiwan Strait, are scheduled to continue until noon on Sunday.
Meanwhile, an angry Beijing announced Friday it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between top military commanders and on climate change. China’s foreign minry said it was also suspending exchanges with Washington on countering cross-border crime and drug trafficking, all moves Washington called “irresponsible.”