World News for Students of English

20-04-2026 15:00

Taiwan recently invited the media to witness military drills designed to demonstrate how rapidly it is ready to respond to a military attack.

The exercises come as China increases gray zone pressure – hostile actions that stop just short of open warfare.

During the drills, F-16 fighter jets took off in under six minutes to simulate intercepting Chinese aircraft. Additionally, Taiwan showcased its focus on asymmetric warfare, including AI-powered drones developed entirely without Chinese components. Because Taiwan cannot match China’s massive defense spending, the administration wants to cooperate with private tech companies. By using high-tech cameras and explosive drones, Taiwan aims to prove that its military is alert and capable of countering Beijing’s constant presence in its airspace and coastal waters.

Difficult words: hostile (very unfriendly or acting like an enemy), intercepting (stopping someone or something before they reach their destination), asymmetric (a type of war where two sides are very different in size or power), alert (readiness to respond to an immediate threat or emergency).

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