China said on Wednesday it takes "necessary measures" to defend the country's sovereignty and will not tolerate "separatist" activities, as Taiwan reported another rise in Chinese warplanes around the island and called on Beijing to halt provocations.

Taiwan said Tuesday that dozens of Chinese warships and other vessels have been deployed around the island, in one of China's biggest-ever military exercises. Defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said Tuesday the number of Chinese ships in the waters around Taiwan exceeded Beijing's maritime response to then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022.

China is deploying dozens of ships in its biggest maritime mobilisation around Taiwan in years, Taipei said Tuesday, after Beijing voiced fury at President Lai Ching-te's recent visit to the

China has deployed its largest naval fleet in regional waters in nearly three decades, posing a more serious threat to Taiwan than previous military activities by Beijing, reports Reuters. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense spokesman,