Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen boarded a naval warship on Tuesday for only the second time in her six years in office, where she lauded the military's determination to defend the island while overseeing its largest annual naval and air exercises.
The military drills, which simulate the repulsion of an invading force, coincide with air-raid exercises across the island as it boosts combat preparedness in the face of rising military pressure from China.
Beijing's growing assertiveness toward the island it claims as its own, combined with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have renewed debate about how to boost defense and prompted authorities to step up preparations for a possible a Chinese attack.