Taiwan’s defense ministry said Chinese forces carried out live-fire drills off the island’s southwest coast on Saturday, intensifying an already tense security environment in the Taiwan Strait. The exercises came just days after a U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Taipei, highlighting the continued geopolitical friction surrounding the island.

The drill follows a pattern of military pressure that Taiwan has repeatedly described as destabilizing. While Beijing has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, Taipei maintains its own government, military, and democratic system. The latest maneuvers add to concerns about the risk of miscalculation in a region where routine military activity can quickly escalate.

U.S. lawmakers have continued visiting Taiwan as Washington backs closer ties with the self-governing island. Those visits often draw sharp criticism from Beijing, which treats foreign contact with Taipei as a challenge to its claims. Taiwan’s government has remained under steady pressure from Chinese military, diplomatic, and economic coercion.

For people in Taiwan, the drills are another reminder that cross-strait tensions remain unresolved and volatile. The island’s defense authorities have said they are monitoring the situation closely, while regional observers warn that repeated shows of force could further undermine stability in the area.