'Shut the door and beat the dog': Chinese drills a simulation of Taiwan blockade and future invasion: experts

China conducts missile tests into the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in this handout released on Aug 4, 2022. - Reuters

BEIJING (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The ongoing military drills around Taiwan are aimed at rehearsing a possible future invasion of the self-ruled island, Chinese military observers and state media have said.

The drills, which have for the first time involved firing ballistic missiles directly over the self-ruled island, are also a thinly veiled threat against those pushing for formal independence of Taiwan.