Tsai Ing-wen

China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan on Monday, in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a "stern warning" to "separatist" forces on the self-ruled island.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, and Monday's drills represent its fourth round of large-scale war games in the past two years.

Taiwan will work with the United States to "safeguard peace and freedom" in the region, the island's premier said on Monday, after Washington approved billions in military aid for Taipei in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday met U.S. delegates who arrived on the island on the heels of an election won by a pro-sovereignty candidate who Beijing said would bring war to the self-ruled island.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen took to the polls in New Taipei City, urging citizens to participate in the democratic process during the presidential election. As the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Tsai cast her ballot at the Xiulang Elementary School voting place, accompanied by vice-presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim and party officials.

Four Chinese balloons were detected moving across the median line separating Taiwan from China, with three flying directly above the island, Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday.

China on Sunday vowed "resolute and forceful measures" over a weekend trip by Taiwan Vice President William Lai to the United States it said it was closely monitoring.

China's foreign minister stepped up threats Friday against the self-governing island of Taiwan, saying any who go against Beijing's demand to exert control over the island are "playing with fire."

They are "on patrol" days after Beijing announced that the military exercises had officially ended.
Taiwan's ministry said it had detected 26 aircraft and seven vessels in the last 24 hours. Of these, 14 aircraft crossed half of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

China's President Xi Jinping has called on the country's armed forces to "strengthen military training oriented towards real combat operations", state-run Chinese television reported, as quoted by AFP.

Tsai said that during the overseas trip, during which she met with McCarthy, the president of the House of Representatives in the USA, and after which she visited Guatemala and Belize, Taiwan's determination to defend freedom and democracy was shown to the world.