The island’s latest security blueprint sends message that Taipei depends on a stable partnership at time of uncertainty about the U.S. president’s stance.

Chinese military exercises near Taiwan on Monday were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's continued promotion of "separatism", according to a stern statement out of Beijing, as Taiwan hit back by calling China a troublemaker.

Beijing's military move came days after the democratic island’s president called it “a foreign hostile force.”