"Since taking office, the leader of the Taiwan region has seriously challenged the one-China principle... pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger," Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement.

"This is purely playing with fire, and those who play with fire will surely get themselves burnt," Wu said.

Chinese warships and fighter jets surrounded Taiwan on Friday in the second day of drills that Beijing said were testing its ability to seize the island, days after its new president was sworn in.

And Wu warned that it would take further steps if forces pushing for Taiwan's independence provoked Beijing.

"We will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved," he said.