Taiwan's "frogmen" Marines perform covert landing drills just a few kilometers from mainland China.(AP photo)
Kinmen, Taiwan:
Taiwan is holding small-scale military drills on an island it controls just off the Chinese coast.
The head of Kinmen's defense command says the beach landing exercise and simulated attack by the navy's elite "frogman" commandos today were to show the ability of the armed forces to provide security in the Taiwan Strait ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday.
The drills follow China's revelation of live-fire exercises in the area just days after Taiwanese voters elected independence-leaning Tsai Ing-wen as president on January 16.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring the island under its control.
The Kinmen commander, Hau Yi-he, said no unusual Chinese military movements had been detected since the election and Taiwan's forces would continue with routine drills.
The head of Kinmen's defense command says the beach landing exercise and simulated attack by the navy's elite "frogman" commandos today were to show the ability of the armed forces to provide security in the Taiwan Strait ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday.
The drills follow China's revelation of live-fire exercises in the area just days after Taiwanese voters elected independence-leaning Tsai Ing-wen as president on January 16.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring the island under its control.
The Kinmen commander, Hau Yi-he, said no unusual Chinese military movements had been detected since the election and Taiwan's forces would continue with routine drills.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
