Taiwan says China sent naval ships into nearby waters before anticipated drills

A Taiwan national flag flutters near the Taipei 101 building at the National Dr Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

China’s military appears to be preparing for widely anticipated drills in response to a recent visit by Taiwan’s president to Hawaii and Guam.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Monday that it detected Chinese naval and coast guard ships entering the Taiwan Strait and the western Pacific and that China had restricted airspace along its south-east coast through Wednesday.