China threatens force to block Taiwan independence; agrees to boost military ties with US amid tensions

News Snapshot:

This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue comes a week after China held military drills around self-ruled Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a ‘dangerous separatist’ read more Police officers guard near the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue for the 21th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defence and security forum, in Singapore. AP Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned Sunday his military is ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan independence but called for greater exchanges with the United States. The remarks at...