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EXPLAINER: Why is China staging drills around Taiwan?

FILE - In this photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan military forces conduct anti-landing drills during the annual Han Kuang military exercises near New Taipei City in Taiwan on July 27, 2022. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense via AP, File) FILE - A Cheng Kung class frigate fires an anti air missile as part of a navy demonstration in Taiwan's annual Han Kuang exercises off the island's eastern coast near the city of Yilan, Taiwan on July 26, 2022. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills.(AP Photo/Huizhong Wu, File) FILE - People are guided by Taiwan's soldiers to a basement shelter during the Wanan air raid drill in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, July 25, 2022. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File) FILE - Two soldiers fold the national flag during the daily flag ceremony on the Liberty Square of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, July 30, 2022. China is staging live-fire military drills in six self-declared zones surrounding Taiwan in response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island Beijing claims as its own territory. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File) FILE - In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location. China is staging live-fire military drills in six self-declared zones surrounding Taiwan in response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island Beijing claims as its own territory. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP, File) FILE - In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese military H-6K bomber is seen conducting training exercises, as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea on Nov. 23, 2017. China is staging live-fire military drills in six self-declared zones surrounding Taiwan in response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island Beijing claims as its own territory. (Wang Guosong/Xinhua via AP, File) FILE - In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a meeting with Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen, second from right, in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. China is staging live-fire military drills in six self-declared zones surrounding Taiwan in response to a visit by Pelosi to the island Beijing claims as its own territory. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File) FILE - In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, and Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen gesture during a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. China is staging live-fire military drills in six self-declared zones surrounding Taiwan in response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island Beijing claims as its own territory. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP, File)