Taiwan scrambles jets and puts naval units on alert over China’s military drills

The country’s new president Lai Ching-te took office this week (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert on Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.

China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.