SpaceWar.com reports: “China’s military said it practised hitting key ports and energy sites during ‘live-fire’ drills Wednesday as part of exercises aimed at Taiwan, the democratic island it claims as its own.

The surprise manoeuvres were criticised by Washington as ‘intimidation tactics’ and come after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called China a ‘foreign hostile force’.

Named ‘Strait Thunder-2025A’, the drills were in the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait as well as the East China Sea, the military said.

The strait is a vital artery for global shipping.

The military said it held ‘long-range live-fire drills’ and practised hitting ‘simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities’ during the exercises.

Wednesday’s exercises aim to ‘test the troops’ capabilities’ in areas such as ‘blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets’, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.

China’s Shandong aircraft carrier was also carrying out drills testing the ability to ‘blockade’ Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command said.

Taipei has condemned the Chinese exercises…”