Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected on Wednesday evening 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships, the first large-scale post-election military activity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with leaders of Japan, Philippines and other countries part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, days after making veiled attacks on the US. Xi Jinping has said Asia-Pacific is "no one's backyard" and should not become an arena of "big power rivalry".
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi vowed Wednesday to punish those who offend Beijing, state media reported, as the country seethes over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.