Taiwan starts live-fire drills:

Taiwan Monday kicked off its largest annual live-fire military exercise — the first under new President Tsai Ing-wen — as the island’s army struggles with its image following a series of accidents.

Codenamed “Han Kuang 32” (Han Glory), the drills lasting five days are designed to test how Taiwan’s armed forces would repel an attack from China.

Relations with China have grown increasingly frosty since Tsai of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency in January. Beijing is highly suspicious of Tsai because her party is traditionally pro-independence, and has warned her against any attempt at a breakaway.

Tsai is expected to preside over parts of the drills as the military show off its latest weapons including locally developed drones and newly acquired attack helicopters. (AFP)