Taiwan's government-backed station CTS (Chinese Television System) issued an apology after erroneously reporting on Wednesday that China launched an invasion just outside the capital, Taipei.

The warning, which also said China was striking targets near Taipei with missiles, appeared during live news broadcast on Wednesday morning, with an alert saying that Taiwan's president had declared a state of emergency.

An anchor later clarified during the 10 am news coverage that the alerts were meant for a Fire Department drill on Tuesday, but were accidentally displayed on Wednesday morning because of a technical error. The anchor also called on citizens not to panic, apologizing for the error.

Taiwan's military released a survival guide last week. Designed like a comic strip, the guide had recommendations for civilians to follow in case of war, such as how to find bomb shelters using smartphone apps, prepare emergency first-aid kits, and distinguish different kinds of air raid sirens. 

There has also been talk recently of extending Taiwanese citizens' compulsory military service.

After US congressmen visited Taiwan last week, the Chinese Army's Eastern Theater Command sent "warships, bombers, fighter jets and other forces to organize multi-purpose combat patrols and conduct sea and air exercises in the East China Sea and around the island of Taiwan," the command said in a statement.

China's Foreign Ministry advised the US last Friday to sever all ties with Taiwan following the visit.

Zhao told reporters that "the US should stop official exchanges with Taiwan," adding that the actions of the US were against the one-China principle and the principles of the three joint communiqués between the two countries.