China's aggressive military drills near Taiwan raise war concerns.

China's recent military drills around Taiwan should be seen as a warning to the self-governing island, according to a government spokesperson. The three-day "Joint Sword" exercises involved 71 aircraft and nine navy vessels, and came after US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. China warned of serious consequences if the meeting took place. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it tracked 35 flights flown by the People's Liberation Army within the past 24 hours along with eight navy vessels in the area surrounding the island.