BEIJING: China's military recently held drills directed at Taiwan, a People’s Liberation Army spokesman said on Thursday (Aug 13), after a high level visit by the United States to Taiwan.

The drills were a 'necessary action' to safeguard sovereignty, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement.

It added the drills were held in the southern and northern ends of the Taiwan strait.

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China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.