A debate over a bill turned violent after lawmakers began fighting and barricaded the door in order to prevent a vote on new election laws in Taiwan.

Taiwan said its military was on high alert as Chinese warships sailed near the island on Monday, preparing for a strong response from China to President Lai Ching-te's stopovers in the United States.

China has already outlined four "red lines" that Donald Trump cannot cross once he becomes president during a meeting with President Joe Biden this weekend.

The annual Kamandag, or Venom, exercises are focussed on defending the north coast of the Philippine's main island of Luzon, which lies about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from self-ruled Taiwan.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and Monday's drills represent its fourth round of large-scale war games in just over two years.

Japan's government said it was the first time that a Chinese aircraft carrier, which was accompanied by two destroyers, entered its contiguous zone, an area within 24 nautical miles of the Japanese coast.

Under Lai's administration, Taiwan revamped training for its armed forces to include more nighttime drills and exercises as the democratic island faces greater pressures from China, which claims it as part of its territory.

Thirty-six of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait -- which bisects the narrow waterway separating the island from China.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and last month launched drills around the self-ruled island days after the inauguration of new President Lai Ching-te.

The two days of drills are part of an escalating campaign of intimidation by China that has seen it carry out a series of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in recent years.

Pena is on an official trip to Washington this week, and will leave for Taipei on Saturday, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

The aftershocks of the quake -- the biggest since a 7.6 magnitude disaster in 1999 killed 2,400 people -- came thick and fast, and by Thursday morning Hualien had experienced more than 300 rolling tremors.

Officials said the quake was the strongest to shake the island in decades, and warned of more tremors in the days ahead.

Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under China's control.

Taiwan's presidential election frontrunner on Tuesday accused Beijing of using "all means" to influence this weekend's crucial poll, which will set the course of cross-strait ties for the next four years.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed hopes on Monday for Taipei and Beijing to seek "long-term peaceful coexistence" and said future relations should be decided by Taiwan's "democratic procedures".

China is not likely to consider a major invasion of Taiwan for now due to domestic challenges, the island's president Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday, although Beijing is trying to sway its upcoming election.

Economic powerhouse Taiwanese companies based in China may be forced to relocate if they feel "unjustly pressured," the island's vice president warned Tuesday after Chinese authorities launched a probe into tech giant Foxconn.

Taiwan's traditional Hakka opera, usually performed at religious festivals, dates back to the late Qing Dynasty and was brought to the island by migrants from mainland China.

President Santiago Pena called for Taiwan's readmission to the United Nations in recognition of its democratic credentials. He said the world body should reflect "participatory, democratic and equitable practices" in line with the United Nations Charter.

Paraguay's new president, Santiago Peña, also delivered a pro-Taiwan message during the swearing-in ceremony held on Tuesday.

Taiwan's president received a caution from China's Taiwan Affairs Office just hours before she was scheduled to depart Taipei.

World War III is something most are fearing especially with conflicts between several countries around the world.

Two American warships were sent to the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, as tensions between China and the United States increased due to their continued dispute regarding the independence of Taiwan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed frustration at the United States on Tuesday as he bemoaned their continued supply of weapons to Ukraine prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war. 

China reportedly blasted eleven missiles over Taiwan's capital on Thursday in what is being perceived by many as an escalation of aggression between the two states after a visit from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan on Tuesday night, despite threats from China of retaliatory action and an escalation of tensions between the three governments.

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaves the United States on Sunday to start her tour of Asia, China has reiterated its implied threat of military action should Pelosi dare to visit Taiwan.

Nancy Pelosi alleged trip to Taiwan draws howl from China, warning made.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Thursday through a call to discuss matters of the state with each other, as tensions between the two countries grow due to the United States' support of Taiwan.