The Chinese military announced large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Tuesday that include an aircraft carrier battle group, as it again warned the self-ruled island democracy against seeking formal independence.

The Chinese military held drills around Taiwan as a "severe warning" and a signal of "forceful containment against Taiwan independence."

China staged various military drills all around Taiwan’s coasts on Tuesday in a show of force after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to counter Beijing’s “aggression” during his first trip to Asia.