Taiwan

China today conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Straits which the Taiwan defence ministry dismissed as "cheap verbal intimidation and sabre rattling".

Advertisment

A day of China's fire drills, Taiwan had started its own live-fire shooting excercises in  Matsu and Kinmen, islands close to China.

China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province.

"The Chinese communists have been using cheap verbal intimidation and sabre rattling on every aspect of the Republic of China in the hope of affecting our morale or creating social unease," Taiwan's defence ministry said.

Advertisment

China's aircraft carrier Liaoning has been carrying out drills in the South China Sea which is at the centre of dispute between several countries including Taiwan.

Chinese fighter jets took part in the excercise.

"We flew and recovered the fighter jets in a continuous manner, making a breakthrough in our flight missions, said Nie Kunxiang, deputy head of the carrier-based fighter jets dispatch detachment.

Advertisment

China does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country and has constantly lashed out at the country. It has often taken on the US over its support to Taiwan even attacking President Trump for his tasid support to the island nation.