Express
Date: May 12, 2018
By: DAN FALVEY 

CHINA has conducted a number of military drills near Taiwan to intimidate the nation as part of increasing military shows of strength by Beijing in the region, it has been revealed.

The drills are thought to have taken place above the Bashi Channel, the stretch of water which separates Taiwan from the neighbouring Philippines.

The move meant Taiwan had to scramble its air force to track the movements of the Chinese military “to ensure defence security” amid fears of conflict between the two nations breaking out.

A number of aircraft – including a Xian H-6K bomber, Sukhoi Su-35 and Shenyang J-11 fighters, the Shaanxi Y-8 transport plane, Kj-2000 early warning aircraft and Tupolev Tu-154 electronic surveillance aircraft – participated in the drills.    [FULL  STORY]