You know how China views Taiwan, right? They see it as part of their territory. Over the weekend, Taiwan's Defense Ministry spotted 14 Chinese warships, seven military planes, and even four balloons around the island. This isn't new; China often sends their forces near Taiwan. But this time, it's because Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, visited some of Taiwan's allies and even stopped by the U. S. China didn't like that one bit. They're not happy with Taiwan's interactions with other countries, especially the U. S. , which sells weapons to Taiwan.

Lai's trip included visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau. He also met with U. S. congressional leaders. China opposes any U. S. engagement with Taiwan. Lai even called on China to stop making threats. He said military exercises won't win respect from other countries. This isn't the first time China has reacted strongly to Lai's actions. In October, they held huge exercises around Taiwan after Lai rejected China's claims.

China might hold more drills soon. They're not happy with Lai and refuse to talk to him. Taiwan is ready, though. They're committed to defending themselves and staying connected with the world. The Taiwan Strait is a busy place these days, with China trying to show who's boss and Taiwan standing firm.

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