The drills came after Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, announced measures to counter China’s influence and espionage.

The military drills come as Beijing again warned the self-ruled island democracy of seeking formal independence.

China has launched some of its biggest military drills around Taiwan in months, in what it said was a "warning" to separatist forces on the island.

China on Tuesday sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for large-scale drills Beijing said were aimed ...