A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office has stressed that recent military activities around Taiwan were a warning to separatists and their supporters there, not China's compatriots.

Zhu Fenglian made the remark at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

She said China's three-day military patrols and drills around Taiwan that ended on Monday were a countermeasure to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting last week with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Zhu said China will do whatever is necessary to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She added that China's military threats are aimed at Taiwan's pro-independence activists and interference from external forces, and by no means at China's compatriots there.

Her remark is seen as part of China's efforts to step up pressure on Taiwan ahead of its presidential election next January.

Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te was officially named the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate on Wednesday.

Zhu declined to comment on the race.