China conducts 'area access denial drills' around Taiwan as President Xi calls for 'reunification'

Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, Wellington Koo, confirmed that China is conducting 'area access denial drills' around Taiwan, involving over 100 naval and coast guard ships, including an aircraft carrier group. Concurrently, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his call for the 'complete reunification' of Taiwan with the mainland, stating that 'the tide of history cannot be stopped.' Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense also reported tracking 29 Chinese military aircraft and warships conducting a 'joint combat readiness patrol' around the island.