Huge Chinese military exercises around Taiwan spark 'deep concern' from US, UK

World War Three fears continue to mount as G7 foreign ministers have expressed "deep concern" over the latest Chinese military drills around Taiwan. China encircled the island during the drills, which is around 100 miles south-east.

This comes amid historic tensions within the G7 in the wake of President Trump's tariffs and his explicit desire to annex Canada and make it the 51st US state. Nevertheless, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Canada's foreign minister, the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and others, have set aside separate disputes to condemn China's aggressive action.

In a joint-statement, the G7 foreign ministers said: "We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, express deep concern about China's provocative actions, particularly the recent large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

"These increasingly frequent and destabilizing activities are raising cross-Strait tensions and put at risk global security and prosperity.

"G7 members and the larger international community have an interest in the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions to threaten such peace and stability, including by force or coercion", the statement continues.

It ends: "G7 members continue to encourage the peaceful resolution of issues through constructive cross-Strait dialogue."

On Wednesday, the Chinese military said it conducted military drills in the Taiwan Strait using live fire. The exercise, codenamed "Strait Thunder", was condemned by the Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

The president's office said it "strongly condemns" the "military provocations" from Beijing. Meanwhile, China has ramped up then rhetoric against the Taiwanese leader.

In recent days, China has branded President Lai as a "parasite" and "separatist", while he called China a "foreign hostile force".