Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that Beijing is increasing "psychological" pressure in an apparent effort to undermine the island’s sovereignty.

“In addition to military force, China is intensifying the legal, psychological, and media war, trying to eliminate Taiwan's sovereignty on a global scale,” Lai said during a security consultation, as reported by the Taiwan Central News Agency.

Beijing is also reportedly attempting to "undermine national identity and weaken Taiwan's unity," Lai added, noting that Taiwan’s administration has developed two action plans to safeguard national security.

Earlier, Lai told the Washington Post that Taiwan plans to propose an additional military budget of USD 40 billion, which will be used to purchase weapons from the United States. In August, Lai stated that Taiwan’s defence budget would exceed 3 per cent of GDP by 2026 and reach 5 per cent by 2030.

Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing, however, regards the island as a Chinese province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country without formally declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts between foreign states and Taipei and considers its sovereignty over Taiwan indisputable.

Tensions around Taiwan escalated in August 2022 when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Beijing condemned the visit as a symbol of US support for Taiwanese separatism and conducted large-scale military exercises around the island.