Sirens blared in Taiwan's capital city as locals simulated air attacks from neighbouring Communist China.

Footage shows the deafening alarms wailing across the metropolis of Taipei as authorities conducted the 30-minute air raid drill on Thursday, July 17.

Streets were emptied as residents, including drivers in the middle of traffic, were ordered to take shelter by civil defence volunteers.

The invasion rehearsal comes as tensions remained high between Beijing and Taiwan, which is led by President William Lai, whom Chinese officials regard as a 'separatist'.

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'.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a renegade province and has increasingly ramped up both economic and military pressure in recent years to assert its territorial claim over the island.

Taiwan is also home to the strategically and economically important Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited.