Beijing — China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan on Tuesday for a second day of live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island’s main ports and assaults on maritime targets.

The two-day war games, dubbed “Mission Justice 2025”, were described by Taipei as “highly provocative and reckless”.

China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out military action to seize the island democracy.

AFP journalists on Pingtan, the Chinese island closest to the main island of Taiwan, saw a volley of rockets fly into the air around 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Tuesday, leaving trails of white smoke.

At least 10 rockets were launched in rapid succession, sending a booming sound reverberating through the sky and drawing tourists to the waterfront to take photos and videos with their phones.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement shortly afterward that it had “conducted long-range live-fire exercises in the waters north of the island of Taiwan and achieved the desired effects.”

The show of force follows a Exceptional arms sales to Taipei by the United States – the main financier of Taiwan’s security – and Japanese Prime Minister’s comments that any use of force against Taiwan by China could justify a military response from Tokyo.

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, said Tuesday that Beijing will “strongly oppose” large-scale U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, adding that any attempt to hinder China’s unification with the island “will inevitably end in failure.”

Beijing said this month it would take “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its territory after U.S. lawmakers approved the latest major arms sale to the island.

President Trump said Monday that the United States was not informed in advance of the Chinese exercises, but he was not particularly concerned about them either. He ruled out the possibility that his counterpart Xi Jinping would order an invasion of Taiwan, noting that China has been conducting exercises around the island for many years.

“I don’t believe he’s going to do it,” Mr. Trump said, touting what he called his “great relationship” with the Chinese leader.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the exercises “a punitive response to Taiwan’s pro-independence separatist forces and a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed his “strongest condemnation” and said Beijing was “deliberately undermining regional stability through military intimidation.”

“This is a blatant provocation against regional security and the international order,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that Taipei would not escalate the situation.

China blocks Taiwan

China said Tuesday morning it had deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers “to conduct exercises on the topics of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine operations.”

A statement from the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said the exercises in the waters north and south of Taiwan “tested the capabilities of air-sea coordination and integrated blockade and control.”

State broadcaster CCTV reported that one of the central themes of the exercises was the “blockade” of Taiwan’s main ports, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south.

Chinese authorities have released a map of five major areas around Taiwan where war exercises would take place. They are expected to end on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Taiwan said these areas, some of which are within 12 nautical miles of its coasts, had affected international sea and air routes.

Dozens of flights to Taiwan’s Kinmen and Matsu islands have been canceled, according to the island’s Civil Aviation Administration, affecting around 6,000 passengers, while more than 850 scheduled international flights will be “affected” and could face delays.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday it detected 130 Chinese military aircraft near the island, as well as 14 Chinese navy ships and eight unspecified government vessels, in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m.

Taiwan’s coast guard said it deployed 14 vessels to monitor naval activity, “using a one-on-one observation approach to forcefully deter vessels.”

“So many exercises like this over the years”

Many ordinary Taiwanese reacted stoically.

“There have been so many such exercises over the years that we are used to them,” said Chiang Sheng-ming, 24, a fishmonger at a market in the capital Taipei.

“If you hold on, you have nothing to fear,” adds Tseng Chang-chih, 80, a fruit seller.

“War? Impossible. It’s just a posturing. If they really attacked Taiwan, they would have to pay the price.”

The Chinese military last held large-scale exercises involving live fire around Taiwan in April. Surprise maneuvers condemned by Taipei as “blatant military provocations” and “escalatory behavior” that he said threatened the peace.

The range of 20 products is designed to help meet daily nutritional needs

Marks & Spencer is set to launch a new range of meals and snacks, specially designed to help people taking weight loss medication maintain a healthy diet.

The mass retailer announced its Nutrient Dense range, comprised of 20 products carefully formulated to help customers meet their recommended daily intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals. M&S suggests these meals are perfect for those with a reduced appetite or for people taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

The range will include an H5O shot, named after its five botanical ingredients, which were chosen and validated by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The range also includes coconut water, cold-pressed ginger juice, fruit and vegetable fiber, sea moss, as well as salads, meals and breads like Super Seed Oat Bread.

The move follows a significant increase in the number of people using GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Data provided to the Telegraph by life sciences analytics firm IQVIA revealed that 2.49 million packs of Mounjaro and Wegovy were purchased in July, a substantial increase from 493,000 the previous year.

Sales are said to have increased by a further million between July and August, amid widespread reports of stockpiling in anticipation of a price rise in September. It is estimated that around 90 percent of people using weight loss injections purchase them online or at major pharmacies.

The NHS has started rolling out Mounjaro, but there are strict criteria determining patient eligibility. Over the next three years, the health department plans to administer the shots to about 240,000 people.

Nutrient-dense foods are those that offer a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, fiber, healthy fats, and protein relative to their calorie content. M&S referenced recent results from the government’s 2025 National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which revealed that 96% of the UK population does not meet the daily fiber recommendation.

Annette Peters, Head of Food Trends at M&S, expressed her enthusiasm for the new range: “The Nutrient Dense range is very exciting and is also incredibly useful for anyone trying to achieve their nutritional goals. It’s also great if clients are reducing their food intake, such as those taking weight loss medications.

She added: “We know that the use of GLP-1 medicines is growing, so it is more important than ever to ensure that even if people are eating smaller portions, we are helping to provide them with the right level of nutrients.”

Annette continued: “We challenged ourselves to make products that are more nutrient dense than calorie dense, so that every bite is packed with more of the good stuff we all need.”

The Nutrient Dense range will be available in M&S Foodhalls from 5 January.

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