World War Three fears grow as China ramps up military drills near Taiwan

CHINA ramped up war fears yesterday by extending its huge military drills around Taiwan.

President Xi Jinping’s troops exercises near the contested island — in protest at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week — were due to end on Sunday.

But China pledged yesterday to continue its live missile firing and drills involving warships, fighter jets and troops.

The ominous move effectively blockades Taiwan, as ships struggle to steer clear of military action in the 100-mile wide strait between the island and the Chinese mainland.

China claims the island with a booming tech industry hub as its own.

It has imposed sanctions on Pelosi and axed defence and climate change talks with the US in protest.

Furious Chinese president Xi Jinping ordered the action, ignoring warnings that any miscalculation could trigger a World War Three clash with America.

Beijing branded Pelosi’s visit as a “gross interference” in its internal affairs.

But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hit back branding China’s reaction “flagrantly provocative”.