Goa, April 2 -- China's military conducted long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Wednesday as part of its ongoing military exercises around Taiwan. These drills, which aimed to practice precision strikes on key ports and energy facilities, were an escalation of China's military activities in the region. While the exact location of the exercises was not disclosed, the Chinese Eastern Theatre Command confirmed that the drills were part of the larger Strait Thunder-2025A exercise.

The live-fire exercises follow a rise in Chinese rhetoric targeting Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who was recently branded a "parasite" by China. The drills coincide with a visit to Asia by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during which he repea...