The world’s largest maritime law enforcement agency played an unprecedented role in Chinese military drills around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of the island.

China has made it clear that it won't hesitate to use military force if Taiwan pushes for independence, signaling an escalation in tensions.

Beijing’s massive military drills around Taiwan on Monday revealed significantly improved coordination between its navy and coastguard, according to observers, who say this could be key to mainland China’s blockade strategy for the island.

China has announced it will expand the amount of financing available for housing projects on a “white list” to 4 trillion yuan ($562 billion), seeking to reverse a slump in the property industry.

China will expand a "white list" of housing projects eligible for financing and increase bank lending for such developments to 4 trillion yuan ($562 billion) by year-end, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong said on Thursday.

China plans to almost double credit support for “whitelist” housing projects to Rmb4tn ($562bn) as part of official efforts to reinvigorate its property sector and turn around the economy. The whitelist was introduced in January and includes projects and developers eligible to receive further financing from local and state-owned banks to help them complete unfinished projects.

China will never commit to renouncing the use of force over Taiwan, the government in Beijing said on Wednesday after another bout of war games and a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the scene of a famous defeat for Taiwanese forces.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, staged a day of large-scale drills around the island on Monday

China has said that it seeks a peaceful reunification with Taiwan. But they threatened to never give up the use of force, Reuters reports. “We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and endeavour.