India, Dec. 30 -- China's military on Monday dispatched air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around the island of Taiwan, a move Beijing called a "stern warning" against separatist and "external interference" forces. Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert and called the Chinese Government "the biggest destroyer of peace."

Later in the day, Taiwan's aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air travellers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions because of the drills. The first of two days of drills came after Beijing expressed anger at US arms sales to the territory and a statement by Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi,

saying its military could get involved if China were ...