TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Troops exploded charges floating on the Tamsui River as part of a blockade to prevent Chinese troops from reaching Taipei, reports said Saturday.

The event was the highlight of the fourth day of the nationwide Han Kuang 41 military drills, the Liberty Times reported. Defense experts have suggested an invasion of Taiwan might start with China’s People’s Liberation Army moving on the river in the direction of the capital.

At 9 a.m., an M3 amphibious vehicle deposited floating platforms carrying C4 explosive charges at various points across the river. The Army team also installed nets to hamper shipping traffic over a width of 500 meters and a depth of 450m.

There were 30 floating units consisting of a net, three oil barrels, and a separate barrel. While previous drills had included practicing a blockade of the river, this time, the C4 charges were actually blown up by remote control at 9:34 a.m., the report said.

There were four explosions, though in a war situation, all charges would be blown up to stop the advance of enemy speedboats, according to the military. The barrels would also be filled with inflammable oil products, which was not the case Saturday.

Only one M3 vehicle took part in the drills, but three others were kept on standby at a base in Tamsui. The Han Kuang 41 drills have been scheduled for July 9-18, an unprecedented 10 days and nine nights.