China carried out its largest military drills around Taiwan since 2022, deploying fighter jets and warships in a sweeping demonstration of force across the Taiwan Strait. The exercises marked another sharp reminder of Beijing’s military pressure on the self-governed island.

According to Reuters, the operation took place on Sunday and came with a warning aimed at Taipei not to take steps toward formal independence. The drills added to long-running tensions in the region, where China has repeatedly used military activity to signal its claim over Taiwan.

Taiwan, which is governed separately from Beijing, has faced increasing military and political pressure from China in recent years. The latest exercises are likely to intensify concern in Taipei and among regional governments that monitor stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The move underscores how quickly the Taiwan Strait can become a flashpoint, with military signaling now a routine part of the broader standoff between Beijing and Taipei.