Taiwan has conducted live-fire drills on an island in the Taiwan Strait amid increasing military pressure from China.

The army invited domestic and foreign media to watch the drill. Taiwan appears to be highlighting its resolve and capacity for self-defense.

An army unit based in the Penghu Islands staged Wednesday's drills involving a scenario of preventing Chinese forces from landing.

Machine guns and other weapons were used to fire at airborne targets. Troops also checked procedures to fire artillery from howitzers and tanks to hit enemy forces coming from the sea.

The army unit says about 10,000 rounds were used in the exercise. Live fire drills of this type are staged every month on Penghu island.

China staged massive military drills near Taiwan in August, in response to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.

It has also become the norm for Chinese military aircraft to cross the "median line" -- an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait, designed to prevent accidental clashes between China and Taiwan.