China's military drills near Taiwan met with US-Taiwan alliance strengthening.

China sent 42 warplanes near Taiwan as the country began three days of military drills and combat readiness patrols around the self-ruled island. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said the drills and patrols were being held to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and as a warning against the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' collusion and provocation with external forces.