China warned aircraft and ships to avoid seven designated drill zones around Taiwan, an effective blockade. On Tuesday, China fired 27 rockets from its eastern coast, some landing closer to Taiwan’s main island than ever before, said Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng, a Taiwan military intelligence official.

Taiwan’s president vowed to defend the democratic island’s sovereignty in a defiant New Year speech on Thursday after China had carried out military drills.

Beijing recently fired missiles, deployed fighter jets, naval vessels, and coastguard ships, actions Taipei called “provocative”.