In pictures: Scenes from both sides of the Taiwan Strait as China conducts unprecedented military exercises

SINGAPORE:   China fired ballistic missiles and deployed jet fighter jets and warships on Thursday (Aug 4) as it started its largest military exercises around Taiwan , a show of pressure sparked by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.

On Pingtan Island in China’s Fujian province  – one of the mainland’s closest points to Taiwan –  people appeared on as helicopters flew overhead plus smoke trails from projectiles appeared in the distance.

In Keelung on Taiwan’s northern coast, meanwhile, people waded plus swam in the sea seemingly unperturbed by the drills taking place approximately the horizon.

In Beijing, enormous outdoor screens flashed images promoting the People’s Liberation Military while TV screens at a salon within Taipei showed insurance coverage of the escalating cross-strait tensions .

Here are a few of the scenes that will played out on Thursday.