The Chinese military has conducted what it said were live-fire drills on 30 July, ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's expected trip to Taiwan.

Footage shows a barrage of explosives being fired into the air by the People's Liberation Army near the waters of the Pingtan islands in Fujian province in mainland China.

The exercises were announced as rumours spread of Pelosi's still-unconfirmed visit.

If the visit happens it will be the most-high profile visit by a US official in years, and the first visit by an American House Speaker since 1997.

Beijing has reacted angrily to talk of the trip to what it considers a renegade province it will one day recover, potentially by force.

The Chinese military has conducted 'live-fire drills' ahead of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.

Footage shows a barrage of explosives being fired near the waters of the Pingtan islands in Fujian province, China on Saturday, July 30, evening.

The exercises were announced as rumours spread of Pelosi's still-unconfirmed visit. If it pushes through, it will be the first visit to Taiwan by an American House Speaker since 1997.

The move is reportedly seen by Beijing as an affirmation of Taiwan's independence. Though it is officially known as the 'Republic of China,' Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China, which is known as the 'People's Republic of China'.

However, in recent years Beijing has increased the pressure - both economic and military - on Taiwan to secure it as part of Chinese territory.