China's expanded military drills around Taiwan shows its intent to isolate the island, a Taiwan national defence think tank analyst says. "It seems China is preparing for large-scale aerial operations to confront U.S. naval forces," Shu Hsiao-Huang of the Institute of National Defense and Security Research tells AFP, adding that the deployment of naval assets "suggests a strategy to blockade the island, cutting off its economic lifelines and essential resources". China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei authorities have said, branding Beijing a "troublemaker". SOUNDBITES