Taiwan carries out live fire military drills

Taiwan's military held an anti-landing live fire exercise at a beach in Pingtung County. The annual combined-arms exercise, which involved artillery, assault helicopters, fighter jets and tanks, was a simulated response to a landing by Chinese troops.

Pingtung County: Taiwan's military held an anti-landing live fire exercise at a beach in Pingtung County on Thursday.

The annual combined-arms exercise, which involved artillery, assault helicopters, fighter jets and tanks, was a simulated response to a landing by Chinese troops.

Missiles hit dummy targets at sea, and tanks and soldiers fired at simulated Chinese forces, barring their attempted advance.

According to the defence ministry, Taiwan's Army, Navy and Air Force were deployed in the joint operations with the aim of testing the island's combat readiness and capabilities in the face of China's military threat.

The drill was simulating an attempt by Chinese forces to land on the shores of Pingtung, as part of the annual Han Kuang exercise.