China's military will begin its annual live-fire drills in the contested Taiwanese Strait on Friday. The commencement of the drill will coincide with the conclusion of Taiwan's yearly military exercises, the Han Kuang series of war games.

China's Maritime Safety Admission has warned ships to stay away from the area chosen for the military drills, which will be conducted from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

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Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has announced knowledge of China's military exercise.

Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said Taiwan " is fully aware of " China's upcoming live-fire military drill. He explained that the exercises would involve the ground forces of China's southeastern Fujian province. They would be firing regular artillery at an area just 14 nautical miles off Weitou.

The two countries remain suspicious of each other even after an unprecedented improvement in bilateral ties. The relationship between China and Taiwan is currently the most stable it has been in over six decades. There are concerns over the possibility of strained relations after Taiwan's presidential elections next year.

China claims Taiwan as of its territory. Chinese authorities have never dismissed the possibility of using force in reclaiming the autonomous island. The self-ruled nation of Taiwan was born after defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island following their loss in the 1949 civil war to the Communists.

Taiwan's president Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that his country would not neglect it's priority on national defense.

Ma made the statement after observing a military drill involving artillery forces engaged in an anti-amphibious landing exercise, simulating an invasion attempt by Chinese forces attempting to land in northern Taiwan on the shores of Hsinchu.

The exercise, which Ma observed in his role as commander-in-chief of the Taiwanese armed forces, saw 304 shells fired and involved 18 8-inch M110 self-propelled howitzers. 20 M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzers were also used in the drill aimed at defending the island against an enemy aircraft trying to make a landing.

Taiwan increased its annual military drill to include defending the region against Chinese threats after a video in July showed Chinese soldiers attacking a model of the Taipei presidential compound. 

The Taiwanese military has warned that Beijing is building two new aircraft carriers and has repeatedly practiced attacking several places in Taiwan.

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