Shots of Taiwan exhibiting its military might will enthrall you

Taiwan's air, sea and land forces conducted a drill to repel an invading force on Thursday, as its defence minister pledged to defend the self-ruled island against China's rising military threat.

(Text from Reuters)

Fighter jets launched strikes and warships opened fired to destroy an enemy beachhead, while more than 3,000 soldiers took part in the live-fire drill in the southern county of Pingtung.

During annual military exercises across the island this week, fighter jets have landed on Taiwan`s main highway and air raid drills have shut its major cities.

While it was just a mock exercise, Defence Minister Yen Teh-fa left no doubt where the greatest perceived threat lay.

Taiwan is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include an escalating trade war and China`s muscular military posture in the South China Sea, where the United States also conducts freedom-of-navigation patrols.

Earlier this month, senior US and Taiwanese security officials held a rare meeting, a move that angered Beijing.

China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan, suspecting that its President Tsai Ing-wen is pushing for the island's formal independence - a red line for Beijing.