Taiwan's newly acquired HIMARS and Abrams tanks would raise the costs of a Chinese amphibious landing, a defense analyst says.

This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are increasing.

Taiwan will simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island in its annual military and civil defence drills next week, as President Lai Ching-te warned on Tuesday the island was already facing China's "war without gun smoke".

Taiwan's armed forces have an active-duty strength of just over 150,000, compared with China's standing army of over 2 million soldiers.

China has imposed export controls on eight companies tied to Taiwan’s military as the self-ruled island began annual military exercises.

In a bold display of military preparedness, Taiwan has launched large-scale live-fire drills under its annual "Han Kuang" military exercise. These drills, the biggest in the island's history, include the debut of U.