China launches 'punishment' war games around Taiwan
A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to take off at Hsinchu Air Base in Taiwan. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins A furious China launched "punishment" drills around Taiwan on Thursday in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks as state media denounced newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te.