Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says an unusually large number of Chinese military ships, planes and drones entered the airspace and waters surrounding the self-governing island between Sunday and Monday.

Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te says tougher measures are needed to counter stepped-up Chinese infiltration, spying and other efforts to weaken the island’s defenses.

More than 50 countries that together have half the world’s population are expecting national elections in 2024.

Taiwan’s presidential candidates have expressed a desire for peaceful relations with Beijing.

Taiwan’s vice president and front-runner in upcoming presidential elections has accused China of employing unfair trade practices that could be used to influence the voting.

China’s defense ministry says its military has launched drills around Taiwan as a “stern warning” over what it calls collusion between “separatists and foreign forces,” days after the island’s vice president stopped over in the United States.

President Santiago Peña said Paraguay and Taiwan are “not just allies, but also brothers” when he was sworn in as the South American country’s new president on Tuesday.

Taiwan’s vice president has left on a trip to Paraguay to reinforce relations with his government’s last diplomatic partner in South America at a time when China is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island democracy.