China ends Taiwan war games aimed at 'sealing off' island

This handout photo taken on April 9, 2023 and released by Japan's Ministry of Defense on April 10, 2023 shows a fighter plane taking off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in Pacific Ocean waters, south of Okinawa prefecture. - Japan's Ministry of Defense via AFP

PNGTAN, China, April 10, 2023 (AFP): Taiwan China declared it had "successfully completed" three days of war games around Taiwan on Monday, after it deployed dozens of aircraft to launch simulated strikes and an aerial blockade of the self-ruled island.

Beijing held the exercises in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke a strong response.