Taiwan conducts live-fire military drill

Around 200 Taiwanese military personnel participate in a live-fire drill in the north of the country on Thursday.

The drill aims to strengthen the island nation's self defence, and simulates a military attack from China.

Twenty-four self-propelled Howitzers are being used in the exercise, firing their 203 millimetre shells out to sea.

China has claimed the island as its own since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, and has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, but remains the country's biggest ally and arms supplier.

Beijing strongly opposes arms deals between Taiwan and Washington.

Travis Brecher, Reuters