China says military drills surrounding Taiwan under way

Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defence drills, while the US has numerous naval assets in the area

A group of 10 south-east Asian countries has called for calm in the Taiwan Strait as it urged against any “provocative action” in the wake of a visit to Taipei by US House speaker Nancy Pelosi that has infuriated Beijing (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AP)

China has said military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments are under way in six zones surrounding Taiwan.

The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi this week and are intended to advertise China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic in response to moves to solidify its de facto independence from Chinese rule with support from key ally the US.