China launches biggest military encirclement of Taiwan in 8 months with live-fire drills, rockets and warships in massive 'Justice Mission 2025' exercise.

As China staged live-fire military drills around Taiwan featuring aircraft, warships and rocket launches, the Chinese foreign minister reiterated Beijing’s aim to achieve “ complete reunification ” with the island it claims as its own.

China’s military announced Monday it was mobilizing army, navy, air and rocket units around Taiwan for “major military drills” aimed at sending a “serious warning” against any push for Taiwanese independence and “external” forcing interfering with the island.

The second day of the large-scale war games, called “Justice Mission 2025,” saw the Chinese military encircle Taiwan on Tuesday.

Chinese tourists were milling around a small temple overlooking the glittering sea on an island near Taiwan on Tuesday when they heard thunderous booms from an islet in the distance. A resident said he was unaware of the drills but that the island had been a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists in the past.

Yonaguni, a tiny Japanese island near Taiwan, is getting soldiers, radar and missiles. As China’s dispute with Tokyo escalates, some residents are worried.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake has hit Taiwan just off its northeast coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

By Mark Buckton - Taipei Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a M6.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday in the second major tremor to hit the island within days.