China Boosts Military Drills and Defence Ties in South China Sea

China's military plans to conduct at least five drills in various areas, including the South China Sea and waters off its coast, amid simmering tensions with Taiwan and the US. The PLA will hold drills starting Friday until Sunday in the South China Sea, while one of the announced military exercises will be held for three days in waters off the port city of Qingdao. Beijing has escalated military and aerospace activities off its coast in recent days, and tensions over Taiwan are especially intense after President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month.