The drills were the latest show of force by China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has protested Western support for the island.

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.

China held a live-firing exercise from its territory closest to Taiwan one week after it launched a large-scale drill encircling the island. Chinese military drills off the Taiwanese coast have intensified in recent years as its claims over the self-governed island have grown.

The Chinese military claimed it tracked and monitored the American and Canadian warships in the Taiwan Strait.

U.S. and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, almost a week after China held massive war games around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. The destroyer USS Higgins and the Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver made a “routine” transit of the Taiwan Strait meant to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation for all countries,

The Chinese military criticized the US and Canada for “undermining peace and stability” by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait, just days after Beijing conducted major drills around the island.

China's banks cut their main lending rates, in a well-telegraphed move, as policymakers intensify their efforts to boost the slowing economy. Find out more: