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,

Taiwan's military held an early morning air defence drill on Thursday to test its response and engagement procedures, ahead of a trip by President Lai Ching-te at the end of the week to the Pacific that will include U.