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Updated Aug 5, 2022 - World

In photos: China's military drills encircle Taiwan

Rebecca Falconer
A Chinese military vessel sails off Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 5.

A Chinese military vessel sails off Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on Aug. 5. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Taiwan reported multiple Chinese "warships and warplanes" near the island Friday as China's military conducted live ammunition drills for a second day in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei this week.

The big picture: Pelosi responded Friday to the Chinese military firing missiles into the sea near Taiwan on the first day of drills by declaring that Beijing couldn't stop U.S. officials from visiting the self-governing island. Taiwan's Defense Ministry described Beijing's actions as "highly provocative."

A Chinese military jet flies over Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 5.
A Chinese military jet flies over Pingtan island on Aug. 5. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
A US-made C-130 aircraft prepares to land on a runway at the Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu on August 5.
A U.S.-made C-130 aircraft prepares to land on a runway at the Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Aug. 5. Photo: Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
A Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan Island, one of China's closest points to Taiwan, on Aug. 4.
A Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan Island on Aug. 4. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
People wade by rocks and dive into the sea near Keelung on August 4, 2022, as China held military exercises encircling Taiwan.
People wade by rocks and dive into the sea near Keelung, a port city near Taipei, on Aug. 4. Photo: Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
Tourists look on as a Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4.
Tourists look on as a Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan island on Aug. 4. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Smoke trails from projectiles launched by the Chinese military are seen as tourists look on from Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4.
Smoke trails from projectiles launched by the Chinese military are seen as tourists look on from Pingtan island on Aug. 4. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4.
Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan Island on Aug. 4. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Taiwan Navy ships at the Port of Keelung in Keelung, Taiwan, on Thursday, Aug. 4.
Taiwan Navy ships at the Port of Keelung in Keelung, Taiwan, on Aug. 4. Photo: Lam Yik Fei/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Go deeper: China warns airlines to avoid airspace near Taiwan

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details on the Chinese military drills and responses to them and further photos.

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