The remarks come amid the two countries’ worst diplomatic crisis in years, after the Japanese prime minister said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Japan plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni – making it a frontline of defence in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan – as part of its broader military build-up across the southern island chain.

Taiwan's president should take part in "rehearsals" focused on potential enemy movements in order to make more informed decisions during wartime, retired Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Andrii Ordynovych said in an interview with the Central News Agency, which is partially funded by Taiwan's government.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged her to call anytime during their first phone conversation on Tuesday, a reassuring message as Tokyo navigates heightened

A Reuters visual investigation of China's annual naval exercises off the Chinese coast opposite Taiwan shows how Beijing's "shadow navy" of civilian ships is training to help in a mass landing of troops and materiel on the island.

Chinese man accused of recruiting former Taiwanese officers to gather classified military information - Anadolu Ajansı

That role also means a war over Taiwan could be "cataclysmic," the report warned, potentially "wiping out as much as 10 percent of global GDP"—an unprecedented economic hit in modern times. The authors said the ramifications of such a scenario could be "on par with the 2008 Global Financial Crisis."

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday (Nov 25) that a "return" to China is not an option for the island's 23 million people, after Chinese President Xi Jinping pressed his country's sovereignty claims in a call with US President Donald Trump.

China has offered Taiwan a "one country, two systems" model, but this position is not supported by any mainstream political party. The US has not taken a side when it comes to Taiwan's sovereignty but is opposed to any use of force to seize the territory.