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Taiwan navy shows off its steel with simulated attack exercise

Taiwan's navy simulated on Thursday an effort to see off opponent ships as it finished up three days of New Year drills, sending out two of its newest and most innovative warships to lead a flotilla into the Taiwan Strait.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, sends its flying force and navy into the skies and waters near the island every day in what the government in Taipei calls a continual pressure project.

In 2015 China also held 2 rounds of significant war video games around Taiwan.

At the Zuoying naval base in the southern city of Kaohsiung on the shores of the Strait, two Tuo Chiang-class corvettes accompanied 4 smaller sized Kuang Hua VI-class rocket boats into the waters in a drill replicating the approach of enemy ships.

When we see a target at sea, when it continues to approach us, this is how we respond, navy Captain Chen Ming-feng informed reporters at the base.

The Taiwan-made Tuo Chiang corvettes have been called the aircraft carrier killer by its navy, for their complement of anti-ship missiles. They can also bring Sky Sword anti-aircraft missiles.

With a catamaran style, the cutting edge highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels, are meant to secure larger warships while operating near Taiwan's shores.

Taiwan's navy is dwarfed by that of China, which has 3 carrier, nuclear-powered submarines and hundreds of other warships.

During the drills, which began on Tuesday, Taiwan's air force also demonstrated for reporters its Patriot ground-to-air rockets and Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighters.

Taiwan declines Beijing's sovereignty claims and states only the island's people can decide their future.

(source: Reuters)