China has intensified pressure on Taiwan with a second consecutive day of live-fire military drills around the island, pairing missile launches with sharp diplomatic warnings. Beijing says the exercises are a response to U.S. arms sales and what it calls separatist provocations in Taipei. Taiwan pushed back by releasing coast guard footage showing Chinese vessels being warned off its waters and condemning the drills as violations of international norms. As global tensions rise, civilians across Taiwan reacted with a mix of worry, resignation, and defiance—highlighting how military maneuvers at sea are increasingly colliding with everyday life on shore.
