China says military drills near Taiwan a 'necessary action'

File picture of a Su-30 fighter and an H-6K bomber of the Chinese Air Force take part in a drill, Sept. 25, 2016. - Xinhua

BEIJING (Reuters): Chinese military drills off Taiwan's south-west coast last week were a "necessary action" to protect China's sovereignty, Beijing said on Wednesday (Sept 16), after Taiwan complained the large-scale air and naval exercises were a serious provocation.

China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has stepped up military activities near the island, in what Taiwan views as intimidation to force it to accept Chinese rule.