Beijing: Following military drills in retaliation for Tsai's recent meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, China claimed on Wednesday that Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen was pushing the island nation into "stormy seas."

According to Tsai, Taiwan's overseas trip, which featured stops in Guatemala and Belize in addition to a meeting with McCarthy in the US, demonstrated to the rest of the world Taiwan's commitment to defending freedom and democracy.

The visit infuriated Beijing, which organised days of military exercises to demonstrate its ability to retake the self-governing island, which China claims as its own.

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Tsai's repeated requests for talks have been rejected by China, which sees her as a separatist. Tsai declares that she wants peace but that if Taiwan is attacked, her government will protect it.

"Tsai Ing-wen put Taiwan in danger. Taiwan has been pushed into stormy waters by Tsai Ing-wen, according to Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO).

"A serious warning against the collusion and provocation of Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces," Zhu claimed of the drills conducted around Taiwan.

Tsai said the trip had been successful in garnering support against an aggressor who was endangering the island's freedom. She arrived back in Taiwan a day before the drills started.

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As she met with Canadian lawmakers at her office in Taipei, Tsai said, "Through this trip, we again sent a message to the international community that Taiwan is determined to safeguard freedom and democracy, which won acknowledgment and support from our democratic partners.

She continued, "It is even more important for democracies to actively unite in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism." "Canada is a crucial ally in the democratic process. Together with Canada and many other like-minded international partners, we are prepared to do everything in our power to protect the values of freedom and democracy.

Despite the tensions with China, Tsai appeared at ease as she greeted the 10 Canadian lawmakers. She even cracked a joke after the interpreter greeted them in French by saying "bonjour," which is the equivalent of "hello."

The lawmakers laughed as she exclaimed in English, "That's French!" while grinning and pointing to the interpreter. Despite China declaring on Monday that the three days of drills had concluded as planned, Beijing has kept up military operations near Taiwan.

On Wednesday morning, the Taiwanese defence ministry reported that in the previous 24 hours, 35 Chinese military aircraft and eight navy vessels had been spotted flying over Taiwan.

According to a map provided by the ministry, 14 of those aircraft had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, which typically acts as an unofficial border between the two sides.

Five Su-30 fighters were among the aircraft to cross the median line, while the other aircraft did so at locations in the south and centre.

Although Chinese fighters had previously only occasionally crossed the median line, since conducting war drills close to Taiwan in August, following the visit to Taipei of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the country's air force has done so frequently.

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China claims that it does not acknowledge the line's existence. China's claims of sovereignty are categorically rejected by Taiwan's government, which asserts that only Taiwan's citizens have the authority to determine Taiwan's future.