A Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, Taiwan's defence minister said.

China's Maritime Safety Administration warned boats to avoid venturing into the area around Niushan island in Fujian province for four hours starting from 9am (local time) on Tuesday. Niushan island is the closest point between mainland China and Taiwan and sits south of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China is holding live-fire drills off the coast of its southern Fujian province facing Taiwan, just a week after a massive air-and-sea drill it called punishment for Taiwan's president rejecting Beijing's claims of sovereignty.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday that live fire Chinese drills in a province facing the island are part of routine annual drills but also possibly part of China's "deterrence effect" in the waters of the Taiwan Strait.

China's military began a live-fire exercise near Taiwan on Tuesday, maintaining pressure on the self-ruled island after staging large-scale drills and President Xi Jinping called for troops to prepare for war.

Taiwan’s imports of liquefied natural gas could be vulnerable if China someday imposed a blockade, the archipelago’s defense chief said — highlighting the concern Beijing’s military activity is raising in Taipei.

China's military is conducting live-fire drills around islands near Taiwan Tuesday that are being tracked by the Taiwan Defense Ministry.