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

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".

The 10- day drills aim to test Taiwan's response to a potential Chinese invasion, with the military, firefighters, police, and civil society all set to take part.Taiwanstarted its annual Han Kuang military exercise on Wednesday,