Sirens and evacuations as Taipei rehearses to counter China invasion threat

Taiwan's capital is holding one of its largest ever civil defence exercises.

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Air raid sirens rang out across the metropolitan area and in some areas residents sought shelter indoors, while traffic ground to a halt. The city also held mass evacuation drills and mass casualty event rehearsals.

The exercise was held in conjunction with Taiwan's largest ever war games - the annual Han Kuang exercises - as the island increasingly attempts to ramp up its defences.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to "reunify" with the island.

Tensions have increased since last year when Taiwan elected its president William Lai, whom China reviles as a "separatist".