Taiwan's Presidential Office conducted its first ever tabletop exercise simulating a military escalation with China, several officials briefed on the matter said, at a time when the island is facing renewed Chinese military threats.

Taiwan maintains its own democratic autonomy from China despite Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait are often high, as China has staged military exercises and war games off the island's coast. The 100-mile wide strait separates China and Taiwan.

China has warned the US that sending weapons to Taiwan is akin to “playing with fire” and risks severe consequences. The US recently announced $571.3m (£473m) in military assistance to the island and approved $295m in arms sales.

Taiwan's presidential office has staged tabletop exercises simulating how civil society would respond to a Chinese invasion, with a focus on how to protect and repair infrastructure in case of a conflict and how to mobilize civilians.

Taiwan has conducted its first war game, aiming to prepare for a potential escalation of conflict with China. Various government agencies and citizen groups participated in the exercises. The Office of the President of Taiwan,