China ends Taiwan drills

China ended three days of military drills around Taiwan yesterday saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island that Beijing views as its own.

Taiwan responded to Beijing's announcement by saying it would "never relax" its efforts to strengthen combat readiness and would closely monitor China's missile forces and movements of the Shandong aircraft carrier.

The European Union expressed concern yesterday, saying Taiwan's status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident or use of force there would have huge global implications.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically-governed island under Beijing's control. Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's claims.