BEIJING (AP) – China’s decision to bring serious firepower to bear for military drills in the waters off Taiwan this week has deep roots – both in the past several weeks and the past several decades. The island is the most sensitive political subject for China. It has been ever since Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) – Croatia’s parliament on Friday voted to reintroduce compulsory military service in the European Union and NATO member country.

HONG KONG (AP) – China’s military on Monday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace.”  n.