Taiwanese troops used concrete barriers, barbed wire and Hesco walls to block a key bridge near Taipei on Thursday in a drill to stop invading Chinese forces attempting to advance on the capital.

Taiwan's largest military drills of the year began Wednesday as the island democracy attempts to prepare its population for a potential Chinese invasion.

Taiwan has kicked off annual military exercises aimed at simulating a response to a potential Chinese invasion of the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own.