China’s army is stepping up nighttime training in a signal it is ready for “surprises” in a possible war with Taiwan.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held live-fire drills under the cover of darkness this week, days after encircling the self-governing island in another large-scale military exercise.

Zhang Youxia, Beijing’s most senior uniformed military official, inspected the three-day “combined military operation” in Hebei which appeared to be an attempt to prepare the military for a nighttime invasion.

Mr Zhang, vice-chairman to China’s Central Military Commission, which is led by President Xi Jinping, pointed out that the army needs a new military training system and to strengthen confrontation test training to be more practical.