Taiwan's military held a live-fire drill on its southern coast early Tuesday on the assumption that Chinese troops were attempting to come ashore.

A total of 114 artillery shells were fired for over an hour in the county of Pingtung, near the southern tip of the main island.

Thirty-eight cannons were deployed on the shore. After launching illumination flares, the forces fired mid-air artillery shells that strew fragments over a wide area as well as shells directly targeting vessels.

The routine exercise had been announced in July. But it drew attention as it was conducted near waters where the Chinese military had staged drills in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

An official of Taiwan's Eighth Army Corps told reporters that it is the military's duty to protect the homeland. He said they will continue the exercises whatever the situation is to build up their capability.

Taiwan's military plans to conduct the same drill on Thursday.