The U.S. is Taiwan's ace in the hole as it faces China's threats, so does Trump's fickle foreign policy fuel concern, or does Taipei have "a better hand"?

The encounter followed Tuesday's near collision between an intercepting Chinese military helicopter and a Philippine turboprop.

China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year. The budget was announced at the National People’s Congress, the annual meeting of China’s legislature. The Pentagon and many experts say China’s total defense spending may be 40% higher or more because of items included under other budgets.

China's defence ministry said on Thursday that drills which had alarmed Taiwan off its coast were "routine" and the island should stop complaining, as Taipei reported a surge in Chinese military activity,

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The 650-foot China Coast Guard ship 6104 was around 170 miles off South Korea's west coast on Friday, according to open-source ship-tracking data viewed by Newsweek. Another ship, CCG- 6501, was situated 120 miles off South Korea's Jeonbuk State.

China is flexing its military muscle in the region to show that it will not wait for the Trump administration to decide how hard it wants to counter Beijing.

Taiwan says China violated norms and caused a "high degree of danger" by announcing "live-fire exercises without prior warning" just off its coast.

Military wait to attend the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 5. (AP)