Tan Kefei

China has deployed its navy to rescue citizens from conflict-hit Sudan, the defence ministry in Beijing said on Thursday.

Multiple nations have scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and citizens by road, air and sea from Sudan, where fighting between the army and paramilitaries has killed hundreds and led to acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel.

The maneuvers are also being carried out in response to the "collusion between Taiwan and the United States," said Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND), Tan Kefei.