China Flexes Military Might Near Taiwan Amid US Arms Deal, Japan Tensions

• China launched a large-scale military exercise in the central Taiwan Strait, involving fighter jets, bombers, drones, and long-range rockets.
• The drill, conducted by the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command, aims to test precision strike capabilities on mobile ground targets.
• This exercise follows the US approval of an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, which China condemned as sending a "wrong signal" to separatists.
• Tensions escalated with Japan after its PM stated a Taiwan crisis could be an "existential threat" to Japan, prompting China's strong protest.
• China accuses Japan of increasing military deployments and surveillance near Taiwan, including mobile radars and potential medium-range missiles.

Why It Matters: China's military drill near Taiwan signals its resolve amid US arms deal and rising regional tensions.