TAIPEI, June 19 — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has ordered defence and security units to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said have not abated even as tensions rise in the Middle East.

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Feb 21 — Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concerns with her China counterpart today over inadequate notice given by the Chinese navy of a rare live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights.

BEIJING/TAIPEI, Dec 13 — China's defence ministry today broke its silence about days of military activities around Taiwan, saying it was up to China to decide whether or not to hold drills and the military would "not be absent" in fighting against separatist forces.