Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has overseen coastal strike drills during annual war games, boarding a fast-attack missile boat and watching the deployment of low-flying attack drones to simulate defending a Chinese assault. Lai boarded a fast-attack missile boat at a navy base in the southern city of Kaohsiung, from where he broadcast a message to the sailors taking part. In the face of "external threats and challenges", the government would continue to strengthen defence capabilities, giving the military and coast guard the greatest support, Lai said, without directly mentioning China. One of the coast guard's new Anping-class catamarans also participated, given the coast guard would be pressed into service to support the navy in time of war. Lai watched missile launchers being installed on an Anping-class coast guard ship on Thursday.