Taiwan air force holds annual drill ahead of Lunar New Year holiday amid rising pressure from PLA

Taiwan’s air force showed its military preparedness to safeguard the self-ruled island’s airspace in an annual drill on January 11, 2023, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. The exercise, held at Hsinchu airbase in northern Taiwan, came after mainland China's People’s Liberation Army sent 57 warplanes and four ships around the island on January 8. Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state. But many oppose possible attempts to take the island by force.