China launched two-day “punishment” drills around Taiwan on May 23 in response to “separatist acts.” The drills are a “strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against external provocation,” China said. China said it sent heavily armed warplanes while staging mock attacks just three days after Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a “separatist,” took office. China said that those supporting independence for Taiwan would be left with “heads broken and blood flowing.” Meanwhile, fighter jets took off from a Taiwan airbase as the self-ruled island dispatched aerial and naval forces in response to China’s launch of military drills.