HUALIEN (Taiwan) • Taiwanese troops yesterday staged live-fire exercises simulating a response to an invasion, as China stepped up pressure on the island's President Tsai Ing-wen and a row over airline routes escalated.

The military sent reconnaissance aircraft to observe simulated incoming ships, and tanks fired rounds as the "enemy" landed at the eastern port of Hualien. Attack helicopters fired flares and F-16 fighter jets launched simulated assaults, backing up the ground battle against the "enemy" troops.

The Defence Ministry did not specify that the annual drill simulated an invasion by China, but said it was intended to "show determination to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and national security".

The Taiwan Strait separates the island from China.

Ms Tsai last month warned against what she called Beijing's "military expansion" - the increase in Chinese air and naval drills around the island since she came to power in May 2016.

There is also a dispute about new flight routes by Chinese airlines in the strait.

Beijing sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Cross-strait relations have turned frosty since the inauguration of Ms Tsai, who refuses to acknowledge self-ruling, democratic Taiwan is part of "one China".

The drill yesterday takes place annually before the Chinese New Year holiday to raise public confidence in Taiwan's defence capabilities. "Our combat readiness has no holidays," said Lieutenant-General Huang Kai-sen.

"In order for our citizens to feel safe during the Chinese New Year, we are standing by and on guard 24 hours a day."

Tensions have been growing this month since China began operating new flight routes in the Taiwan Strait without consulting the island. China also sent its aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait twice this month.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE