China could find a "pretext" to stage new war games around Taiwan this year, coinciding with sensitive dates such as the anniversary in May of a year since President Lai Ching-te took office, a senior Taiwan coast guard official said.

China's coast guard said it had conducted "law enforcement patrols" around Taiwan on Tuesday, the same day Beijing announced military drills around the island.

The drills come just two weeks after a large-scale exercise in mid-March, when Beijing sent a large number of drones and ships toward the island. Beijing sends warplanes and navy