Taiwan staged an air defense exercise as tension simmers over President Lai Ching-te's upcoming Pacific trip. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry also reported two Chinese balloons near the island.

China is likely to launch military drills in the coming days near Taiwan, using President Lai Ching-te's upcoming trip to the Pacific and scheduled U.S. transit as a pretext, according to assessments by Taiwan and regional security officials.

Taiwan conducted an early morning air defense drill to evaluate its response strategies before President Lai Ching-te's Pacific trip, set to include U.S. stopovers. China is expected to hold military exercises near Taiwan,