- .President Xi Jinping watched as China staged its largest ever show of force in the disputed South China Sea
- .10,000 naval officers, 76 fighter jets, and a flotilla of 48 warships and submarines were all involved in the drills
- .China has also announced it will be holding further live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Straits on April 18
China has staged its largest naval drills ever in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with Taiwan over the disputed territory.
President Xi Jinping was in attendance to watch the enormous show of drills - involving more than 10,000 seamen, 76 fighter jets and 48 warships and submarines.
Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television showed footage of the President boarding one of his destroyers which then sailed to an unnamed location in the contentious waters to watch the drills.
In an impassioned address to his troops, President Xi said China's need for a world leading navy 'was never more pressing than today'.
The President said the People's Liberation Army should work to develop its naval forces, build up modern maritime combat system and strengthen its capability in diversified military missions.
A vast array of servicemen and women were involved in the drills which saw around 10,000 seamen in the South China Sea
Chinese President Xi Jinping watched the large-scale drills on China's only aircraft carrier amid rising tensions with Taiwan
He also urged the soldiers to devote their unfailing loyalty to his party - before watching the jets take off from an aircraft carrier through binoculars.
China has been increasingly spreading its influence across the South China Sea.
Neighbouring Taiwan has expressed concern at Xi's actions, as the Chinese President has set his country on the course of one of the most ambitious military development programmes ever seen.
China currently has the world's largest armed forces - but Xi's tenure has seen further investment in technology, new equipment, such as stealth fighters and troop carriers, and also training programmes.
It has also proved increasing boisterous in territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas and over Taiwan, a self-ruled territory Beijing claims as its own.
Also on Thursday, China announced it would hold live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Straits on April 18.
Under Xi, China has seen vast military expansion and development - with old technology and training methods overhauled
China currently has the world's largest armed forces with over 2.3 million active service members compared to the US' 1.4m
President Xi has previously been criticised by neighbours - notably by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen over his warmongering
In response to China's warmongering, the Taiwanese navy staged its own drills simulating an attack on the island on Friday - just days before Xi's live fire exercises are set to begin.
Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's President, boarded the Kee Lung destroyer to supervise as troops practised defending against an attack on the northeastern port of Suao.
It was the first time she has supervised a drill from onboard a warship.
'I believe our countrymen will have great faith in the military's combat capabilities and its determination to defend our country after today's drill,' Tsai said on the destroyer's deck after it returned to port as the exercise ended.
Tsai said 'we are very confident of our military' when asked to comment on Beijing's planned live-fire drill in the Taiwan Strait next week.
'It's a routine drill that our military will fully monitor and has made relevant preparations,' she said.
Taiwan's defence ministry said the exercise was staged in light of a 'changing international and regional security situation' to test the military's combat readiness and its ability to defend Taiwanese territory.
Some 20 warships and four F16 fighter jets took part in the drill, one of the largest naval manoeuvres since Tsai took office in May 2016.
Taiwan staged its own drills in response to Xi's aggression just days before further Chinese live-fire exercises are planned
Beijing has a chequered history in the South China Sea after claiming Taiwan as its own territory despite the fact it's self-ruled
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