China holds military exercises until US envoy visits Taiwan

China's actions are happening despite a senior US official visiting Taiwan.

Training involving fire shootings comes amid mounting tensions between Beijing and Washington.

The U.S. has moved towards greater support for Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan self-governing as a breakaway province.

Keith Krach is the highest-ranking official from the US State Department to visit the island in decades, reports the BBC.

On Friday, China's Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang accused the US and Taiwan of “speeding up co-operation, often causing concerns”, though he made no reference for the visit.

He told reporters that Taiwan's “use to control China” remains only one wish.

Washington said Krach, who is US Undersecretary of Economic Affairs, was visiting Taiwan to attend a memorial service for the late President Lee Ten-hee.

Later Friday he is scheduled to meet Taiwan President Tsai Inng-Wen.

Although the US does not have an official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, the 1979 Act of Relations with Taiwan allows it to sell weapons on the island and commit it to “close relations”.

The visit comes at a time that US-Chinese relations have fallen to their lowest point over the years.

Both nations have been involved in commercial warfare since 2018, and then they clashed over the body's pandemic and exchanged accusations of spying.

Stressed relations have also affected other areas, including a blow the US has taken on Chinese technology firms, lifting visas for Chinese students.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged allied countries to oppose the <x0-hegemonist aspirations” of China's Communist Party.

The free world must triumph over this new tyranny”, Pompeii said.