Chinese military extended into second day a joint exercise involving its army, navy and rocket forces near the coast of Taiwan.

China's launches drills around Taiwan to "severely punish" the island's pro-independence leader, as the U.S. boosts its war footing in Japan to deter Chinese "aggression."

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday ahead of an announcement of sweeping import tariffs by the United States that the island is an "indispensable" member of the global supply chain and it would defend its companies' interests.

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo Brawner told troops of Northern Luzon Command to prepare for a Taiwan invasion contingency, citing the repatriation of citizens and the “inevitability” of Manila’s involvement in a cross-strait conflict.

The Trump administration is planning to impose a round of fresh tariffs on April 2, a day President Trump has dubbed " Liberation Day. " The announcement is viewed by economists as the culmination of his "America First Trade Policy," an executive order he signed on his first day in office aimed at revitalizing U.S. manufacturing.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te met senior officials on Sunday night to discuss the possible impact of U.S. tariffs and receive an update on contingency plans, his office said on Monday.

American businesses have struggled in recent weeks to plan ahead as Trump’s tariff threats have injected so much uncertainty into the ir supply chains. Stock indices have dipped. Expectations of inflation have soared. Investors are rattled.

The reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump will hit key nations in the semiconductor supply chain, including 34% on China, 32% on Taiwan and 24% on Japan. "Americans. This is Liberation Day,