The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

Taiwans military held intense Han Kuang drills simulating a Chinese river invasion, using live explosives for the first time. The exercises aimed to boost defense readiness and deter Beijing amid rising threats.

Taiwan's newly acquired HIMARS and Abrams tanks would raise the costs of a Chinese amphibious landing, a defense analyst says.

Taiwan has commenced deploying HIMARS ahead of significant live-fire drills aimed at demonstrating its resolve to counter any Chinese aggression. This move, part of the Han Kuang exercises, emphasizes Taiwan's military readiness against China's intensified military maneuvers around the island.

Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons on Saturday, ahead of live-fire drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion.

Momentum is building in Taiwan to lessen its business dependency on China, its biggest trading partner. Doing so will not be easy.

China has imposed export controls on eight companies tied to Taiwan’s military as the self-ruled island began annual military exercises.

Beijing has declared Taiwan as an "inalienable" part of China, whereas Taipei has long asserted its independence.

Taiwan will simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island in its annual military and civil defence drills next week, as President Lai Ching-te warned on Tuesday the island was already facing China's "war without gun smoke".