Taiwan Holds War Games 'to Test Combat Readiness'

Taiwan's president watched naval drills simulating an attack on the island on Friday, days before Beijing is set to hold live-fire exercises nearby in a show of force.

The mainland's growing military is increasingly flexing its muscles and will hold live-fire drills next week in the Taiwan Strait following weeks of naval manoeuvres in the area.

Tsai Ing-wen on Friday boarded the Kee Lung destroyer to supervise as Taiwanese sailors practised defending against an attack on the island's northeastern port of Suao.

The exercise was staged in light of a "changing international and regional security situation" to test the military's combat readiness and its ability to defend Taiwanese territory, the island's defence ministry said.

Some 20 warships took part in the exercise, alongside four F16 fighter jets.

Tsai has warned against what she called Beijing's "military expansion" -- the increase in Chinese air and naval drills around the island since she took office in May 2016.

Chinese warplanes conducted 25 drills around Taiwan between August 2016 and mid-December last year, according to Taipei.

On Thursday, President Xi Jinping made a surprise visit to naval forces in the disputed South China Sea, where he stressed the "urgent" need to build a powerful navy. (AFP)