The Chinese military has increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years with continuous military exercises, deploying fighter jets and warships around the island. "The more unruly the separatist independence advocates in Taiwan become,

Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the United States, which is the island's most important backer and biggest arms supplier.

China's military vowed Sunday to tighten its "noose" around Taiwan if separatism on the island escalated, warning independence proponents to step back from the "precipice." Beijing considers the self-ruled island of Taiwan to be part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to claim it.