FRICTION INTENSIFIES AMIDST TAIWAN STRAIT CRISIS

Amid the escalating crisis in the Taiwan Strait, US-China relations have sharply increased/worsened/deteriorated. Beijing's/China's/The Chinese government has {conducted/held/launched a series of military/naval/airborne drills near Taiwan, in response to/following/as a result of a visit by/meetings with/talks with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. T