PLA starts live drill near Taiwan Straits

The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command began a live combat drill near the Taiwan Straits on Friday, targeting the current situation in the region.

Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said the drill is a "justified and necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The drill came a day after United States Undersecretary of State for Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach arrived in Taiwan for a visit, which prompted strong protests from China's Foreign Ministry and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.