INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China says military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments are underway in six zones surrounding Taiwan.The drills were
prompted by a visit to the island by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi this week and are intended to
advertise China&s threat to attack the self-governing island republic in response to moves to solidify its de facto independence from
Chinese rule with support from key ally the U.S, the Associated Press reported.China&s official Xinhua News Agency said the exercises were
joint operations focused on &blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control.& Taiwan has put its military on
alert and staged civil defense drills, while the United States has numerous naval assets in the area.The drills are due to run from
Thursday to Sunday and include missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese
military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan&s leaders and voters held in 1995 and 1996.The exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air
Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force under the Eastern Theater Command, AP reported.The post China says
military drills surrounding Taiwan underway first appeared on Ariana News.
