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

This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are increasing.

Taiwan has launched its largest-ever military drill to assess its combat readiness against a full-scale Chinese attempt to seize the island.

Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons as part of intensifying drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion.

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".

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