The drills were an attempt to divert attention away from Beijing's economic troubles, Taiwan's top security agency said.

China has been ramping up a "hybrid" campaign to pressure Taiwan militarily and economically, Taipei's top security agency says.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has begun his visit to China as Beijing aims to strengthen ties amid heightened tensions with Japan over Taiwan.

Beijing banned two Taiwanese ministers from entering China for alleged separatist activities related to Taiwan independence on Wednesday, prompting an angry response from Taipei, which said it would not bow to "threats and intimidation.

Lee became president last year after the impeachment of his conservative successor Yoon Suk Yeol, who tried to shut down the legislature and seize emergency powers in a six-hour coup. Lee was elected on a promise to rebalance South Korea’s foreign policy by engaging with China and to attempt to restart dialogue with North Korea.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday vowed to defend the self-ruled island’s sovereignty in the face of what he termed China’s “expansionist ambitions,” days after Beijing wrapped up live-fire

China-born Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki said upon his arrival in Taipei yesterday that his trip proves that “Taiwan is not part of China, Taiwan is Taiwan,” and that the two countries are not subordinate to each other.

Experts say Beijing may see the U.S.' seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro not as a license to move on Taiwan as much as a chance to undermine U.S. global leadership.