BEIJING, Dec 8 (Reuters) - China on Monday pledged to defend its sovereignty and warned against "external interference" after the U.S. unveiled a new security strategy aimed at building up military power to deter conflict with Beijing over Taiwan.

Taiwan President William Lai unveils $40 billion defense spending proposal to counter China military pressure as U.S. offers cautious support.

Chinese naval and coast guard activities stretch across the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, South China Sea, and western Pacific, prompting close monitoring by Taipei and Tokyo amid rising regional ten

She says Taiwan must embrace its Chinese heritage to avoid war. Her critics say she wants to steer the island into Beijing’s orbit.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reiterated the country’s long-held position that it understands and respects China’s view on Taiwan, a comment that some Chinese social media users saw as an attempt to walk back her recent remarks.

The president has spoken with the leaders of both countries as they spar over remarks the Japanese prime minister made about the Beijing-claimed island democracy.

Chinese action against Taiwan would be an “act of war that sparks a global crisis”, said The Wall Street Journal. “It would provoke a military response by Taiwan, force President Trump to decide whether the US military should help defend the island, disrupt global trade and impel European nations to impose punishing sanctions on Beijing.”

No end in sight to spat between Japan and China over Taiwan, as neither Tokyo nor Beijing shows signs of backing down.

South Korea has designated Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)" on its online registration form for arriving tourists, visitors from the island recently discovered. This comes as Beijing and Tokyo are locked in a diplomatic spat over the Japanese prime minister's remarks on a hypothetical Taiwan contingency.

John Cena discussed with Joe Rogan the 2021 incident when he called Taiwan a country, prompting an apology to China that upset American audiences.