Taiwan says its military is closely monitoring a series of Chinese live fire drills scheduled along China’s coastline this week, amid continuing tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Monday that the island’s military is closely monitoring a series of Chinese live fire drills taking place along China’s coast this week.

The exercises come amid longstanding tensions between China and Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Taiwan operates its own government and military and maintains that its future should be determined by its people.

Taiwan’s armed forces are monitoring developments to assess the drills and their potential implications for the island’s security. Military exercises involving live ammunition can heighten regional tensions, particularly when conducted near sensitive areas across the Taiwan Strait.

China regularly conducts military activities around Taiwan as part of its broader pressure campaign against the island. Beijing has maintained that Taiwan is a matter of sovereignty and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Taiwan, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its defence capabilities and monitor Chinese military movements.

The latest drills are taking place against a backdrop of wider regional security concerns, with developments in the Taiwan Strait closely watched by neighbouring countries and international partners.

Taiwan has not indicated that the exercises have resulted in an immediate military confrontation. Its monitoring efforts are intended to track activity and help the military assess any potential threats as the drills continue.