The drills began 11 days after the U.S. announced a record $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan and are Beijing's largest exercises to date by area and the closest yet to the island.

Due to the simulations, 76 domestic flights have already been cancelled in Taiwan's offshore islands, affecting around 6,000 passengers.

China flew bombers and fired long-range artillery during a second day of exercises designed to show its ability to claim the island-democracy by force.

Chinese tourists were milling around a small temple overlooking the glittering sea on an island near Taiwan on Tuesday when they heard thunderous booms from an islet in the distance. A resident said he was unaware of the drills but that the island had been a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists in the past.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake has hit Taiwan just off its northeast coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Yonaguni, a tiny Japanese island near Taiwan, is getting soldiers, radar and missiles. As China’s dispute with Tokyo escalates, some residents are worried.

By Mark Buckton - Taipei Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a M6.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday in the second major tremor to hit the island within days.