Taiwan’s president labels China a ‘foreign hostile force’ and ramps up security measures citing ‘infiltration’

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivering a speech about the reaction of the government toward Chinese ‘infiltration’ Photograph: TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE/AFP/Getty Images

Taiwan’s new president has formally labelled China a “foreign hostile force” and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases.

The new measures announced on Thursday include a controversial proposal to restore a military court system in Taiwan, which was under martial law until the late 1980s.